Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum in ferrets: Update review

Serum protein electrophoresis in European mink (Mustela lutreola): reference intervals and comparison of agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of reference intervals for blood analytes, including serum protein fractions, is of great importance for the identification of infectious and inflammatory diseases and is often lacking in wild animal species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from European minks enrolled in the breeding program (n = 55). Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) were used to separate and identify protein fractions. Albumin, α1, α2, β, and γ-globulins fractions were identified in all mink sera by both electrophoresis methods. Reference intervals (90% CI) were determined following the 2008 guidelines of the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute. The methods were compared using Passing-Bablok regression, Bland-Altman analysis, and Lin's concordance correlation.

RESULTS

A significant bias was found between methods for α1, α2, and γ-globulin. Lin's concordance correlation was considered unacceptable for α1, α2, and β-globulins. Differences for gender between methods were found for albumin and α2-globuins, which were higher for males than females. γ-globulins were higher for adults than young minks using both methods; however, α1 and α2-globulins were lower.

CONCLUSION

Both methods are adequate for identifying serum protein disorders, but the AGE and CZE methods are not equivalent. Therefore, reference intervals for each technique are required.

A case report of acute claudication due to vena cava thromboembolism in a dog naturally infected with Leishmania Infantum

Canine leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, and clinical manifestations of infection range from absent or severe to fatal and result from immune-mediated mechanisms. In dogs, the most common clinical signs of leishmaniosis include skin lesions and lymphadenomegaly. However, the presence of other nontypical signs has been described, and diagnosing these cases can be challenging. The aim of the present short communication was to describe the impact of the formation of circulating immunocomplexes due to L. infantum in a dog with leishmaniosis affected by a massive venous thrombus of the caudal vena cava and external iliac veins. On admission, the dog presented bilateral cutaneous vasculopathy of the thigh and renal disease due to L. infantum infection. Two weeks after starting anti-Leishmania treatment based on meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol administration, the animal developed acute claudication of the hind limbs with the presence of a thrombus in the caudal vena cava and the external iliac veins and a high level of circulating immunocomplexes detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Exacerbation of the humoral immune response, along with deposition of circulating immune complexes in the tissues and the concurrent presence of kidney and liver damage, might have contributed to an imbalance in haemostasis in this patient. Future studies should evaluate and analyse the pathological mechanisms contributing to thrombosis in dogs with leishmaniosis.

Nodular pyogranulomatous panniculitis due to Leishmania infantum infection in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by different Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies under natural conditions in Europe. Scientific information related to Leishmania infantum in dogs is extensive, where less information is available in cats and other companion animals. Recently, first clinical cases of L.infantum infection in domestic ferrrets (Mustela putorius furo) have been described. However, clinical information on leishmaniosis in this species is limited A 15-month-old male neutered domestic ferret was presented with chronic weight loss and the presence of coalescent, erythematous and firm subcutaneous nodules in the ventral abdominal subcutis. A fine-needle aspiration of these nodules was performed and the cytological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with the presence of macrophages contained a number of oval organisms with an eccentric nucleus and pale cytoplasm, compatible with Leishmania spp. amastigotes compatible with Leishmania spp. amastigotes. The nodules were surgically excised and histological examination showed a severe multifocal pyogranulomatous panniculitis. Specific immunohistochemistry and qPCR for L. infantum from excised nodules were positive. Additionally, L. infantum was cultured and isolated from the nodules by a fine-needle aspiration. An in-house Western Blot test for L. infantum was performed in serum sample and a positive result was obtained. This is the first reported case of nodular pyogranulomatous panniculitis due to L. infantum infection in a domestic ferret. Further studies are necessary to determine the relevance of domestic ferrets in the transmission of leishmaniosis. The description of new clinical forms of the disease is important as it can assist veterinarians in identifying these new clinical presentations.

Is leishmaniasis the new emerging zoonosis in the world?

Leishmania is a genus of parasitic protozoa that causes a disease called leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female sandflies. There are several different species of Leishmania that can cause various forms of the disease, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on species of Leishmania involved and the immune response of the host. Leishmania parasites have a variety of reservoirs, including humans, domestic animals, horses, rodents, wild animals, birds, and reptiles. Leishmaniasis is endemic of 90 countries, mainly in South American, East and West Africa, Mediterranean region, Indian subcontinent, and Central Asia. In recent years, cases have been detected in other countries, and it is already an infection present throughout the world. The increase in temperatures due to climate change makes it possible for sandflies to appear in countries with traditionally colder regions, and the easy movement of people and animals today, facilitate the appearance of Leishmania species in new countries. These data mean that leishmaniasis will probably become an emerging zoonosis and a public health problem in the coming years, which we must consider controlling it from a One Health point of view. This review summarizes the prevalence of Leishmania spp. around the world and the current knowledge regarding the animals that could be reservoirs of the parasite.

Host genetic backgrounds: the key to determining parasite-host adaptation

Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to global public health, particularly in developing countries. Host genetic factors play a crucial role in determining susceptibility and resistance to infection. Recent advances in molecular and biological technologies have enabled significant breakthroughs in understanding the impact of host genes on parasite adaptation. In this comprehensive review, we analyze the host genetic factors that influence parasite adaptation, including hormones, nitric oxide, immune cells, cytokine gene polymorphisms, parasite-specific receptors, and metabolites. We also establish an interactive network to better illustrate the complex relationship between host genetic factors and parasite-host adaptation. Additionally, we discuss future directions and collaborative research priorities in the parasite-host adaptation field, including investigating the impact of host genes on the microbiome, developing more sophisticated models, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific receptors, utilizing patient-derived sera as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and developing novel treatments and management strategies targeting specific host genetic factors. This review highlights the need for a comprehensive and systematic approach to investigating the underlying mechanisms of parasite-host adaptation, which requires interdisciplinary collaborations among biologists, geneticists, immunologists, and clinicians. By deepening our understanding of the complex interactions between host genetics and parasite adaptation, we can develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat parasitic diseases. Overall, this review provides a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in the parasitology field and offers insights into the future directions of this critical research area.

Ferret Dermatology

Skin diseases commonly affect pet ferrets, with neoplastic, endocrine, and parasitic diseases being the most common. This review includes clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment of diseases with a dermatologic presentation in ferrets.

First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR

BACKGROUND

Leishmaniosis, a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses in Europe. The transmission cycle of leishmaniosis is maintained by both domestic and wild animals. However, few data are available on the role of wild mammals in transmitting the parasite in the European Mediterranean basin. As feline leishmaniosis, diagnosis of the infection in ferrets can be a challenge, the use of different serological and molecular methods combined is a recommended approach. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of infection of L. infantum in apparently healthy domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) in an endemic region of Spain (Community of Valencia), using serological and molecular methods and to evaluate the results comparing the different techniques.

METHODS

The prevalence of Leishmania infection was studied in domestic ferrets. Blood was collected from each animal for serology and molecular analysis. Two serological methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB), were used for the detection of L. infantum antibodies, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used for the detection of L. infantum DNA.

RESULTS

Blood samples from 102 apparently healthy ferrets were analyzed. In the serological study, 25.5% of the animals tested positive by western blot, and 9.0% by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The seroprevalence of L. infantum infection, based on a positive result in any serological test, was 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.6-S37.9%). No kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was detected by qPCR in peripheral blood samples from the ferrets tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The immunological response revealed by these tests indicates that the ferrets are exposed to repeated inoculations with the endemic parasite L. infantum. Although the low population of domestic ferrets means their reservoir potential is limited in the absence of a primary host, it would be of interest to carry out further studies using xenodiagnosis to determine whether they are accidental or reservoir host species capable of spreading infection.