Author/Authors :
RAKHSHANPOUR, Alaleh Dept. of Internal Diseases - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , MALMASI, Abdolali Dept. of Internal Diseases - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , MOHEBALI, Mehdi Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , NABIAN, Sedigheh Dept. of Parasitology - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , MIRHENDI, Hossein Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , ZAREI, Zabihollah Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , DALIMI, Abdolhossein Dept. of Parasitology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran , MOHAMMADIHA, Anita Dept. of Parasitology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran , AKHOUNDI, Behnaz Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , AZARM, Amrollah Dept. of Medical Entomology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widely distributed tick in the world, which
is partly due to its biological flexibility and the global distribution of its major host, the
domestic dog. In Mediterranean region it could be principal reservoir host for Leishmania
infantum, usually transmitted by the phlebotomine sand flies. In this study, we evaluated the
vector potential of R. sanguineus in transmitting L. infantum to uninfected dogs.
Methods: During 2014, five dogs with clinical manifestations of canine visceral leishmaniasis
(CVL), high anti-Leishmania antibody titers and tick infestation, were selected from CVL
endemic areas (Tehran and Alborz provinces). At least, twenty live ticks were removed
from each infected dog. After morphological identification, the ticks were divided into two
groups; ticks belonging to the first group were dissected for parasitological examinations
and semi-nested PCR assay, and those of the second group were selected for the transmission
of CVL caused by L. infantum to uninfected dogs. Following tick infestation, all uninfected
dogs were kept for 9 months and examined monthly for clinical and serological tests.
Results: Nearly, 67% of ticks were infected by L. infantum using the semi-nested PCR. All
other parasitological tests of ticks were negative. Clinical examinations and serological tests
of the investigated dogs revealed negative results. Nested-PCR test results performed on
splenic biopsy samples of dogs were also negative.
Conclusion: L. infantum-positive R. sanguineus ticks were unable to transfer L. infantum from
infected dogs to healthy ones. The detection of L. infantum DNA in ticks collected from
naturally infected dogs by semi-nested PCR does not prove their vectorial competence.
