Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>

Leishmaniasis by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> has a zoonotic transmission cycle involving an increasing number of mammalian hosts, forming a cooperative network. The sand fly feeding on livestock is evidenced, but clinical confirmation regarding their infection is limited. We aimed to eval...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joaquina Martín-Sánchez, María Ángeles Trujillos-Pérez, Andrés Torres-Llamas, Victoriano Díaz-Sáez, Francisco Morillas-Márquez, Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro, Francisca L. de Torres, Antonio Ortiz, Manuel Morales-Yuste
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1511
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849724078651342848
author Joaquina Martín-Sánchez
María Ángeles Trujillos-Pérez
Andrés Torres-Llamas
Victoriano Díaz-Sáez
Francisco Morillas-Márquez
Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro
Francisca L. de Torres
Antonio Ortiz
Manuel Morales-Yuste
author_facet Joaquina Martín-Sánchez
María Ángeles Trujillos-Pérez
Andrés Torres-Llamas
Victoriano Díaz-Sáez
Francisco Morillas-Márquez
Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro
Francisca L. de Torres
Antonio Ortiz
Manuel Morales-Yuste
author_sort Joaquina Martín-Sánchez
collection DOAJ
description Leishmaniasis by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> has a zoonotic transmission cycle involving an increasing number of mammalian hosts, forming a cooperative network. The sand fly feeding on livestock is evidenced, but clinical confirmation regarding their infection is limited. We aimed to evaluate <i>Leishmania</i> seroprevalence in livestock to assess its impact on leishmaniasis epidemiology in an endemic area located in the Mediterranean region. A cross-sectional serological study screened livestock exposure to <i>L. infantum</i> and risk factors in Southern Spain. A total of 864 serum samples of clinically healthy sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs were examined by an indirect fluorescence antibody test, using a 1/80 cut-off titre to minimize cross-reactions. Global seroprevalence was 10.8%: 21.6% cattle, 15.4% sheep, 7.3% goats, and 0.6% pigs. Statistically significant differences in positive detection were observed among species (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and natural regions (<i>p</i> < 0.001). High positive reactions in cattle, goats, and sheep suggest livestock exposure to <i>Leishmania</i> spp. and potential asymptomatic infection. Livestock presence in biotopes could promote a dilution effect, reducing human leishmaniasis incidence. Further investigation is needed to confirm livestock roles in leishmaniasis maintenance and transmission.
format Article
id doaj-art-7c64afa4f20147c2b865466d2e9c8c7b
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-2615
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj-art-7c64afa4f20147c2b865466d2e9c8c7b2025-08-20T03:10:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511151110.3390/ani15111511Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>Joaquina Martín-Sánchez0María Ángeles Trujillos-Pérez1Andrés Torres-Llamas2Victoriano Díaz-Sáez3Francisco Morillas-Márquez4Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro5Francisca L. de Torres6Antonio Ortiz7Manuel Morales-Yuste8Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainSanidad Animal, Agencia de Gestión Agraria y Pesquera, Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural, Junta de Andalucía, 18230 Atarfe, SpainDepartamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainSanidad Animal, Agencia de Gestión Agraria y Pesquera, Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural, Junta de Andalucía, 18230 Atarfe, SpainSanidad Animal, Agencia de Gestión Agraria y Pesquera, Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural, Junta de Andalucía, 18230 Atarfe, SpainDepartamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, SpainLeishmaniasis by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> has a zoonotic transmission cycle involving an increasing number of mammalian hosts, forming a cooperative network. The sand fly feeding on livestock is evidenced, but clinical confirmation regarding their infection is limited. We aimed to evaluate <i>Leishmania</i> seroprevalence in livestock to assess its impact on leishmaniasis epidemiology in an endemic area located in the Mediterranean region. A cross-sectional serological study screened livestock exposure to <i>L. infantum</i> and risk factors in Southern Spain. A total of 864 serum samples of clinically healthy sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs were examined by an indirect fluorescence antibody test, using a 1/80 cut-off titre to minimize cross-reactions. Global seroprevalence was 10.8%: 21.6% cattle, 15.4% sheep, 7.3% goats, and 0.6% pigs. Statistically significant differences in positive detection were observed among species (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and natural regions (<i>p</i> < 0.001). High positive reactions in cattle, goats, and sheep suggest livestock exposure to <i>Leishmania</i> spp. and potential asymptomatic infection. Livestock presence in biotopes could promote a dilution effect, reducing human leishmaniasis incidence. Further investigation is needed to confirm livestock roles in leishmaniasis maintenance and transmission.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1511<i>Leishmania</i> spp.seroprevalencesheepgoatcattlepig
spellingShingle Joaquina Martín-Sánchez
María Ángeles Trujillos-Pérez
Andrés Torres-Llamas
Victoriano Díaz-Sáez
Francisco Morillas-Márquez
Patricia Ibáñez-De Haro
Francisca L. de Torres
Antonio Ortiz
Manuel Morales-Yuste
Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
Animals
<i>Leishmania</i> spp.
seroprevalence
sheep
goat
cattle
pig
title Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
title_full Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
title_fullStr Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
title_full_unstemmed Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
title_short Seroepidemiological Surveillance of Livestock Within an Endemic Focus of Leishmaniasis Caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i>
title_sort seroepidemiological surveillance of livestock within an endemic focus of leishmaniasis caused by i leishmania infantum i
topic <i>Leishmania</i> spp.
seroprevalence
sheep
goat
cattle
pig
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1511
work_keys_str_mv AT joaquinamartinsanchez seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT mariaangelestrujillosperez seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT andrestorresllamas seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT victorianodiazsaez seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT franciscomorillasmarquez seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT patriciaibanezdeharo seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT franciscaldetorres seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT antonioortiz seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi
AT manuelmoralesyuste seroepidemiologicalsurveillanceoflivestockwithinanendemicfocusofleishmaniasiscausedbyileishmaniainfantumi