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Barbero-Moyano J, Castro-Scholten S, Gonzálvez M, Moreno I, Domínguez M, Cano-Terriza D, Jiménez-Martín D, Camacho-Sillero L, Martínez R, García-Bocanegra I. Epidemiological surveillance of Leishmania infantum in wild lagomorphs in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems. Prev Vet Med 2024; 228:106231. [PMID: 38788301 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Wild lagomorphs play a key epidemiological role as reservoirs of Leishmania infantum, causative agent of the largest outbreak of human leishmaniosis in Europe to date. A large-scale survey study was conducted on wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) populations in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems to evaluate the exposure of L. infantum and investigate potential risk factors associated with exposure to this zoonotic parasite. Between 2018 and 2021, a total of 631 wild lagomorphs (471 wild rabbits and 160 Iberian hares) were collected in Andalusia (southern Spain) and tested for antibodies against L. infantum using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Spleen samples from 563 of the wild lagomorphs sampled (441 wild rabbits and 122 Iberian hares) were also evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for detection of Leishmania kDNA. Exposure to L. infantum (positive by IFAT and/or qPCR) was detected in 56.4 % (356/631; 95 %CI: 52.3-60.3) of the lagomorphs analyzed. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were found in 12.8 % (81/631; 95 %CI: 10.2-15.5) of the animals, and L. infantum kDNA was detected in 59.0 % (332/563; 95 %CI: 54.9-63.0) of the spleen samples tested. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high homology (99.9-100 %) between L. infantum sequences obtained and strains previously isolated from humans in Spain. While apparent seroprevalence was significantly higher in Iberian hares (19.4 %; 95 %CI: 13.3-25.5) compared to wild rabbits (10.6 %; 95 %CI: 7.9-13.4), no significant differences in prevalence were found between wild rabbits (61.0 %; 95 %CI: 56.5-65.6) and Iberian hares (51.6 %; 95 %CI: 42.8-60.5). At least one positive animal was found on 64.8 % (70/108) of the hunting grounds sampled, and a high-risk spatial cluster (P < 0.001) was also identified in central Andalusia. The multivariable analysis identified bioclimatic level (meso-Mediterranean climate) and the presence of goats on hunting grounds as risk factors potentially associated with L. infantum exposure in wild lagomorphs. This study shows high, widespread exposure, but heterogeneous distribution of L. infantum in wild lagomorph populations in Mediterranean ecosystems in southern Spain. The results point to the need to promote integrated surveillance programs for the detection of Leishmania spp. in wild lagomorphs in order to establish effective control measures against human leishmaniosis under a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Barbero-Moyano
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain
| | - Moisés Gonzálvez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid 28220, Spain
| | - Mercedes Domínguez
- Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid 28220, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain
| | - Leonor Camacho-Sillero
- Programa de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Fauna Silvestre (PVE), Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga 29002, Spain
| | - Remigio Martínez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres 10003, Spain.
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba 14014, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
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2
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da Silva AS, de Medeiros Silva MM, de Oliveira Mendes Aguiar C, Nascimento PRP, da Costa EG, Jeronimo SMB, de Melo Ximenes MDFF. Challenges of animals shelters in caring for dogs infected with Leishmania and other pathogens. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 49:100988. [PMID: 38462297 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of human Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) has decreased in Brazil; however, the number of areas reporting human and canine cases has increased, with Leishmania infantum usually preceding human infection. This study aimed to analyze the profile of infectious diseases that are endemic for both human and canine VL, in dogs housed in a shelter located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Brazil. Data was obtained between November/2021 to April/2022. All dogs residing at the shelter (98 dogs) were examined and blood was collected for testing for L. infantum, Ehrlichia canis, and Babesia sp. Statistical analyses considered the clinical and laboratory findings. Of the 98 animals, approximately 43% were positive for L. infantum antibodies, 19% were positive for L. infantum kDNA, and 18% were L. infantum positive by culture. Greater levels of anti-leishmania antibodies were observed in dogs with symptoms suggestive of VL. The dogs tested positive for E. canis (19/98) and B. canis (18/98). Lutzomyia longipalpis was captured inside the shelter, representing 74.25% (n = 225) of whole sandflies in the dog shelter. Concomitant infection by L. infantum and E. canis increased the odds of death. Treatment of VL included the use of allopurinol (n = 48) and miltefosine (n = 8). Treated animals showed more signs of Leishmania infection. Tickborn parasites and Leishmania were prevalent in sheltered dogs in a VL-endemic area, which increases the odds of death and poses an additional challenge for caring for abandoned dogs and at the same time setting protocols to manage reservoirs of L. infantum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Salles da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Development and Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Marcel Miranda de Medeiros Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Development and Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Carolina de Oliveira Mendes Aguiar
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Paulo Ricardo Petrucio Nascimento
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Eliardo Guimarães da Costa
- Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Selma M B Jeronimo
- Institute of Tropical Medicine of Rio Grande do Norte, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima Freire de Melo Ximenes
- Postgraduate Program in Development and Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
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3
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Fernández-Arévalo A, González E, Ballart C, Martín-Martín I, Tebar S, Muñoz C, Jiménez M, Molina R, Gállego M. Typing of Leishmania isolates from vectors and leporids of the Madrid (Spain) outbreak. Parasitology 2024; 151:213-219. [PMID: 38105582 PMCID: PMC10941034 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023001336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
In 2009, a large outbreak of leishmaniasis, associated with environmental changes, was declared near Madrid (Spain), in which Phlebotomus perniciosus was the vector, whereas the main reservoirs were hares and rabbits. Analysis of isolates from humans, vectors and leporids from the focus identified the Leishmania infantum ITS-Lombardi genotype. However, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), the reference technique for Leishmania typing, and sequencing of the hsp70 gene, a commonly used marker, were not performed. In the present study, 19 isolates from P. perniciosus (n = 11), hares (n = 5) and rabbits (n = 3) from the outbreak area, all characterized as ITS-Lombardi in previous studies, were analysed by MLEE and hsp70 sequencing. The hsp70 results confirmed that all the analysed strains are L. infantum. However, by MLEE, 4 different zymodemes of L. infantum were identified based on variable mobilities of the NP1 enzyme: MON-34 (NP1100, n = 11), MON-80 (NP1130, n = 6), MON-24 (NP1140, n = 1) and MON-331 (NP1150, n = 1). The relative frequency of these zymodemes does not correspond to their usual occurrence in Spain. Moreover, MON-34 and MON-80 were found in P. perniciosus, hares and rabbits for the first time. These findings continue to provide insights into the outbreak and call for further studies with a higher number of strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fernández-Arévalo
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estela González
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Cristina Ballart
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Martín-Martín
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Silvia Tebar
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Muñoz
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maribel Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Molina
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Gállego
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
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4
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Burguete-Mikeo A, Fernández-Rubio C, Peña-Guerrero J, El-Dirany R, Gainza L, Carasa Buj B, Nguewa PA. Characterization of Leishmania Parasites Isolated from Naturally Infected Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2153. [PMID: 37443951 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is spreading in Europe, especially in endemic countries such as Italy and Spain, in part due to ongoing climate change and the increase in travel and migration. Although Leishmania infantum is the main agent responsible for this disease in humans and animals, other species and hybrids have been detected. This highlights the need to continue isolating and characterizing Leishmania strains from biological samples of infected hosts. In this study, we characterized the recently isolated parasites L. infantum NAV and L. infantum TDL, obtained from naturally infected mammals (dogs), and we compared them with the widely distributed and studied strain L. infantum BCN 150. Both NAV and TDL promastigotes showed a slower growth rate than BCN 150 and were significantly more sensitive to amphotericin B and miltefosine. Furthermore, the expression of the CYCA gene (involved in cell cycle and proliferation) was significantly downregulated in NAV and TDL isolates. On the other hand, CYC6 (implicated in treatment resistance) and APG9 (related to the recycling of protein under stress conditions and/or while undergoing a differentiation process and treatment resistance) levels were upregulated, compared to those measured in BCN 150. Both isolates displayed a higher infection capacity (>3 amastigotes per macrophage and >70% of infected macrophages) compared to controls (<2 amastigotes/cells and <50% of infected macrophages). Finally, a higher susceptibility to miltefosine treatment was observed in intracellular NAV and TDL amastigotes. In conclusion, TDL and NAV are novel Leishmania isolates that might be useful for in vitro and in vivo assays that will allow a better understanding of the parasite biology in Mediterranean areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aroia Burguete-Mikeo
- ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - José Peña-Guerrero
- ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rima El-Dirany
- ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Sciences I, Lebanese University, Hadath 1003, Lebanon
| | - Leonardo Gainza
- Clinica Veterinaria Burlada, Plaza Ezcabazabal 2, E-31600 Burlada, Spain
| | - Belen Carasa Buj
- Clinica Veterinaria Belen Carasa Buj, c/Ximénez de Rada 53, E-31500 Tudela, Spain
| | - Paul A Nguewa
- ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Solana JC, Chicharro C, García E, Aguado B, Moreno J, Requena JM. Assembly of a Large Collection of Maxicircle Sequences and Their Usefulness for Leishmania Taxonomy and Strain Typing. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061070. [PMID: 35741832 PMCID: PMC9222942 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of medical importance, such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma, are characterized by the presence of thousands of circular DNA molecules forming a structure known as kinetoplast, within the mitochondria. The maxicircles, which are equivalent to the mitochondrial genome in other eukaryotes, have been proposed as a promising phylogenetic marker. Using whole-DNA sequencing data, it is also possible to assemble maxicircle sequences as shown here and in previous works. In this study, based on data available in public databases and using a bioinformatics workflow previously reported by our group, we assembled the complete coding region of the maxicircles for 26 prototypical strains of trypanosomatid species. Phylogenetic analysis based on this dataset resulted in a robust tree showing an accurate taxonomy of kinetoplastids, which was also able to discern between closely related Leishmania species that are usually difficult to discriminate by classical methodologies. In addition, we provide a dataset of the maxicircle sequences of 60 Leishmania infantum field isolates from America, Western Europe, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. In agreement with previous studies, our data indicate that L. infantum parasites from Brazil are highly homogeneous and closely related to European strains, which were transferred there during the discovery of America. However, this study showed the existence of different L. infantum populations/clades within the Mediterranean region. A maxicircle signature for each clade has been established. Interestingly, two L. infantum clades were found coexisting in the same region of Spain, one similar to the American strains, represented by the Spanish JPCM5 reference strain, and the other, named “non-JPC like”, may be related to an important leishmaniasis outbreak that occurred in Madrid a few years ago. In conclusion, the maxicircle sequence emerges as a robust molecular marker for phylogenetic analysis and species typing within the kinetoplastids, which also has the potential to discriminate intraspecific variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Solana
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular (IUBM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Chicharro
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilia García
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Begoña Aguado
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Genomic and NGS Facility (GENGS), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Jose M. Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular (IUBM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.); (J.M.R.)
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Mas A, Martínez-Rodrigo A, Carrión J, Orden JA, Alzate JF, Domínguez-Bernal G, Horcajo P. Transcriptomic Profile of Canine DH82 Macrophages Infected by Leishmania infantum Promastigotes with Different Virulence Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031466. [PMID: 35163386 PMCID: PMC8835757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic disease in the Mediterranean Basin affecting mainly humans and dogs, the main reservoir. The leishmaniosis outbreak declared in the Community of Madrid (Spain) led to a significant increase in human disease incidence without enhancing canine leishmaniosis prevalence, suggesting a better adaptation of the outbreak's isolates by other host species. One of the isolates obtained in the focus, IPER/ES/2012/BOS1FL1 (BOS1FL1), has previously demonstrated a different phenotype than the reference strain MCAN/ES/1996/BCN150 (BCN150), characterized by a lower infectivity when interacting with canine macrophages. Nevertheless, not enough changes in the cell defensive response were found to support their different behavior. Thus, we decided to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of both parasites with DH82 canine macrophages by studying their transcriptomic profiles developed after infection using RNA sequencing. The results showed a common regulation induced by both parasites in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. However, other pathways, such as phagocytosis and signal transduction, including tumor necrosis factor, mitogen-activated kinases and nuclear factor-κB, were only regulated after infection with BOS1FL1. These differences could contribute to the reduced infection ability of the outbreak isolates in canine cells. Our results open a new avenue to investigate the true role of adaptation of L. infantum isolates in their interaction with their different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Mas
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Abel Martínez-Rodrigo
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Javier Carrión
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - José Antonio Orden
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
| | - Juan F. Alzate
- Centro Nacional de Secuenciación Genómica-CNSG, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
| | - Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.); (A.M.-R.); (J.C.); (J.A.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-913943814
| | - Pilar Horcajo
- Animal Health and Zoonoses (SALUVET) Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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Protective Efficacy in a Hamster Model of a Multivalent Vaccine for Human Visceral Leishmaniasis (MuLeVaClin) Consisting of the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 Antigens in Virosomes, Plus GLA-SE Adjuvant. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112253. [PMID: 34835379 PMCID: PMC8618729 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe clinical form of leishmaniasis, fatal if untreated. Vaccination is the most cost-effective approach to disease control; however, to date, no vaccines against human VL have been made available. This work examines the efficacy of a novel vaccine consisting of the Leishmania membrane protein KMP11, LEISH-F3+ (a recombinant fusion protein, composed of epitopes of the parasite proteins nucleoside hydrolase, sterol-24-c-methyltransferase, and cysteine protease B), and the sand fly salivary protein LJL143, in two dose ratios. The inclusion of the TLR4 agonist GLA-SE as an adjuvant, and the use of virosomes (VS) as a delivery system, are also examined. In a hamster model of VL, the vaccine elicited antigen-specific immune responses prior to infection with Leishmania infantum. Of note, the responses were greater when higher doses of KMP11 and LEISH-F3+ proteins were administered along with the GLA-SE adjuvant and/or when delivered within VS. Remarkably, hamsters immunized with the complete combination (i.e., all antigens in VS + GLA-SE) showed significantly lower parasite burdens in the spleen compared to those in control animals. This protection was underpinned by a more intense, specific humoral response against the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 antigens in vaccinated animals, but a significantly less intense antibody response to the pool of soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA). Overall, these results indicate that this innovative vaccine formulation confers protection against L. infantum infection, supporting the advancement of the vaccine formulation into process development and manufacturing and the conduction of toxicity studies towards future phase I human clinical trials.
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Feline Leishmaniosis: An Emerging Public Health Problem. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8090173. [PMID: 34564567 PMCID: PMC8473070 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8090173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniosis is the third most important vector-borne disease in humans, preceded by malaria and lymphatic filariasis, and it is considered endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, where higher temperatures favor development of its vector, sandflies. This zoonotic disease is caused by infection of protozoa Leishmania spp. and the most serious mucocutaneous and visceral form is produced by Leishmania infantum, which predominates in the Mediterranean region. The usual hosts for this parasite are dogs and humans, but an increment in cases of L. infantum infection has been observed in cats in the last years. This increase could be due to the use of sandflies repellents in dogs, obligating the parasite to looking for other hosts. The role of cats in the epidemiology of this disease is unknown, although increase of prevalence of feline leishmaniosis has been observed in endemic areas in the last years. Diagnostic techniques and treatments in cats are not standardized, which makes it difficult to establish prevalence and epidemiology of feline leishmaniosis. Furthermore, the clinical signs and immune response against Leishmania in cats are different to those in dogs, with an observed increment of drug resistance. It is necessary to increase our knowledge about L. infantum infection in cats, including clinical signs, transmission, treatments, and the role of cats in the increasing of zoonoses. Finally, new alternative treatments are required for controlling the spread of this disease in all species of mammals.
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Mas A, Martínez-Rodrigo A, Orden JA, Viñals LM, Domínguez-Bernal G, Carrión J. A further investigation of the leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid (Spain): low-infectivity phenotype of the Leishmania infantum BOS1FL1 isolate to establish infection in canine cells. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2020; 230:110148. [PMID: 33189999 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Human leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is a zoonotic disease, with dogs as the main reservoir in Mediterranean Basin countries. The largest European outbreak of human leishmaniosis declared in the southwestern Madrid region (Spain) is characterized by unusual epidemiological and clinical features, such as the emergence of new wild reservoirs (hares and rabbits), whereas the seroprevalence, infection, and severity of canine leishmaniosis have not substantially changed since the first studies conducted in Madrid before the outbreak. Previous studies reported that L. infantum isolates from the Madrid leishmaniosis focus displayed elevated virulence in in vivo models of infection and increased infectivity in murine target cells. With the aim of studying whether changes in the host-parasite interaction and virulence profile have developed, we first assessed the behaviour of one circulating isolate of the outbreak, IPER/ES/2012/BOS1FL1 (BOS1FL1), compared to that of a well-characterized strain from canine leishmaniosis, MCAN/ES/1996/BCN150 (BCN150), in terms of infection capacity (percentage of infected cells, representing infectivity, and number of amastigotes per infected cell, representing the intensity of infection) in canine monocytes and macrophages. BCN150 displayed significantly higher infectivity (76.82 ± 4.40 vs 38.58 ± 2.19; P < 0.0001) and intensity of infection (3.64 ± 0.13 vs 1.83 ± 0.12; P < 0.0001) than BOS1FL1 when interacting with canine cells. Our ROS induction results did not differ significantly between the two isolates or with the responses previously described for other L. infantum isolates. Paradoxically, increased resilience to hydrogen peroxide exposure was observed for BOS1FL1 (% viability 40.62 ± 5.54 vs 26.37 ± 2.93; P = 0.039). Finally, we demonstrated that a decreased intracellular load of BOS1FL1 was associated with increased IFN-γ (261.21 ± 26.29 vs 69.80 ± 9.02; P = 0.0151) and decreased IL-10 production (165.06 ± 23.87 vs 264.41 ± 30.58; P = 0.0002). In this study, we provide the first detailed insight into the differences between the isolate BOS1FL1 from the outbreak in Madrid and the well-characterized strain BCN150 MON-1 obtained from a dog in their response to interacting with canine cells. However, further studies are necessary to shed light on the immune mechanisms resulting in BOS1FL1 exhibiting less virulent behaviour in canine cells than in cells derived from other host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Mas
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Abel Martínez-Rodrigo
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Orden
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Carrión
- INMIVET, Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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