Abstract
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure using noninvasively obtained samples, for the identification of Leishmania infantum in canine tissues, was evaluated and compared with serologic testing and culture. A total of 92% of naturally infected, symptomatic, seropositive dogs were found to be positive by use of DNA from conjunctival swabs. Spleen or lymph node aspirates were found to be positive by PCR in 86% and by culture in 74% of these dogs. The sensitivity and specificity of conjunctival PCR were 92% and 100%, respectively. Experimentally infected dogs were found to be positive by conjunctival PCR already at 45 days of infection (83%) and before seroconversion. PCR using noninvasively obtained conjunctival samples will be useful for epidemiological studies and for direct diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1729-1733 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 189 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 May 2004 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for the Palestinian-German-Israeli Cooperative Project on Leishmaniosis in Palestine and Israel (grant SO 220/ 5-1); Center for the Study of Emerging Diseases (grant support); US-Israel Cooperative Development Research Program, Economic Growth, US Agency for International Development (grant TA-MOU-00-C20-025); Yeshaya Horowitz Foundation (fellowship to D.S.-A.).