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Heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection : using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs

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Courtenay, Orin, Carson, Connor, Calvo-Bado, Leo A., Garcez, Lourdes M. and Quinnell, Rupert J. (2014) Heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection : using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Volume 8 (Number 1). Article number e2583. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002583 ISSN 1935-2735.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002583

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Abstract

Background: The relationships between heterogeneities in host infection and infectiousness (transmission to arthropod vectors) can provide important insights for disease management. Here, we quantify heterogeneities in Leishmania infantum parasite numbers in reservoir and non-reservoir host populations, and relate this to their infectiousness during natural infection. Tissue parasite number was evaluated as a potential surrogate marker of host transmission potential.

Methods: Parasite numbers were measured by qPCR in bone marrow and ear skin biopsies of 82 dogs and 34 crab-eating foxes collected during a longitudinal study in Amazon Brazil, for which previous data was available on infectiousness (by xenodiagnosis) and severity of infection.

Results: Parasite numbers were highly aggregated both between samples and between individuals. In dogs, total parasite abundance and relative numbers in ear skin compared to bone marrow increased with the duration and severity of infection. Infectiousness to the sandfly vector was associated with high parasite numbers; parasite number in skin was the best predictor of being infectious. Crab-eating foxes, which typically present asymptomatic infection and are non-infectious, had parasite numbers comparable to those of non-infectious dogs.

Conclusions: Skin parasite number provides an indirect marker of infectiousness, and could allow targeted control particularly of highly infectious dogs.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology
Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Leishmaniasis -- Diagnosis, Leishmania, Dogs -- Parasites -- Research
Journal or Publication Title: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publisher: Public Library of Science
ISSN: 1935-2735
Official Date: 9 January 2014
Dates:
DateEvent
9 January 2014Published
Volume: Volume 8
Number: Number 1
Page Range: Article number e2583
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002583
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit: 26 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access: 26 December 2015
Funder: Wellcome Trust (London, England), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Great Britain) (BBSRC)
Grant number: 036365 and 069169 (WT)

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