Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (MEEP-LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.
Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (MEEP-LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Infect Genet Evol. 2018 Sep;63:219-230. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.05.029. Epub 2018 May 31.
Rodents and dogs are the confirmed leishmaniases reservoir hosts in Tunisia. Recently, we described hedgehog Leishmania (L.) major and L. infantum infection in an L. infantum endemic area in the North-West. In order to assess if the observation could extend to other endemic areas and to highlight the potential role of hedgehogs as reservoir host, we aimed here at investigating their Leishmania infection in different foci in Tunisia located along a North-South transect, during and outside different transmission seasons. Based on morphological criteria, 2 hedgehogs' species, Atelerix algirus and Paraechinus aethiopicus were identified. Cytologic analysis showed presence of amastigotes in 9/22 samples corresponding to 4 Atelerix algirus specimens. Also, by combining 3 PCR tests targeting repeated DNA fragments using 13A/13B, Lei70R/Lei70L and nested T2/B4-L1/L4 specific primers, all hedgehogs (N = 12) showed a Leishmania infection. The infection rates were very high on spleen (91.66%), kidney (91.66%), blood (90.90%), liver (83.33%) and eye swabs (100%). Parasites were also detected in peritoneum. Three hedgehogs were found infected with L. infantum and the only Paraechinus aethiopicus specimen with L. major. A mixed L. major and L. infantum infection was identified in 8 animals, while the last one also had an L. tropica infection. Interestingly, 2 animals had skin lesions infected with L. major while all others appeared asymptomatic. There was a correlation between infected status and epidemiological profiles of the localities. Sequences and phylogeny indicated micro-heterogeneity and lack of correlation with sampling, season, or localities. We confirmed natural infection of Atelerix algirus and originally of Paraechinus aethiopicus in Tunisia. High rate of asymptomatic infection, parasitemia, proximity to transmission cycles, epidemiological patterns of infection together with hedgehogs' abundance, lifespan and lifestyle corroborate the hypothesis they constitute reservoir hosts.
啮齿动物和犬类是突尼斯已确认的利什曼病储存宿主。最近，我们在西北部的一个利什曼原虫流行地区描述了刺猬中的利什曼原虫（L.）主要和 L. 婴儿感染。为了评估这种观察结果是否可以扩展到其他流行地区，并强调刺猬作为储存宿主的潜在作用，我们在这里旨在调查它们在突尼斯不同焦点的利什曼原虫感染情况，这些焦点位于沿南北向的横断面，在不同的传播季节期间和之外。基于形态学标准，鉴定出 2 种刺猬物种，Atelerix algirus 和 Paraechinus aethiopicus。细胞学分析显示，在 9/22 个样本中存在 9 个 Atelerix algirus 标本中的无鞭毛体。此外，通过结合 3 种针对重复 DNA 片段的 PCR 测试，使用 13A/13B、Lei70R/Lei70L 和嵌套 T2/B4-L1/L4 特异性引物，所有刺猬（N=12）均显示出利什曼原虫感染。脾脏（91.66%）、肾脏（91.66%）、血液（90.90%）、肝脏（83.33%）和眼部拭子（100%）的感染率非常高。寄生虫也在腹膜中被检测到。3 只刺猬被发现感染了 L. infantum，而唯一的 Paraechinus aethiopicus 标本感染了 L. major。在 8 只动物中发现了混合 L. major 和 L. infantum 感染，而最后一只动物还感染了 L. tropica。有趣的是，2 只动物的皮肤病变感染了 L. major，而其他动物均无症状。感染状态与当地的流行病学特征之间存在相关性。序列和系统发育表明存在微异质性，与采样、季节或地点无关。我们在突尼斯证实了 Atelerix algirus 和原本的 Paraechinus aethiopicus 的自然感染。高无症状感染率、寄生虫血症、接近传播周期、感染的流行病学模式以及刺猬的丰富度、寿命和生活方式都证实了它们作为储存宿主的假设。
