Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and black rats (Rattus rattus) as possible reservoirs of Leishmania spp. in Lara State, Venezuela
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
97(2): 169-174, Mar. 2002. ilus, mapas, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-326285
RESUMO
A total of 519 wild animals belonging to eleven species were collected during a two year study in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in Venezuela (La Matica, Lara State). The animals were captured in home-made Tomahawk-like traps baited with maize, bananas or other available local fruits, and parasites were isolated from 27 specimens. Two different species were found naturally infected with flagellates, i.e., cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and black rats (Rattus rattus). Characterization of the parasites using PCR, kDNA restriction pattern and hybridization with species-specific probes revealed the presence of Leishmania (L.) mexicana in three of the black rats and Leishmania (V.) braziliensis in two others. The latter species was also identified in the single positive specimen of S. hispidus. The results suggested both species of animals as possible reservoirs of Leishmania sp
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Rodent Diseases
/
Leishmania braziliensis
/
Leishmania mexicana
/
Disease Reservoirs
/
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Venezuela
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Venezuela
Institution/Affiliation country:
Instituto de Biomedicina/VE
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