Silva Lórena Maciel Santos, Barata Camenas Vieira, da Silva Weslania Souza Inacio, Neto Manuel Benicio Oliveira, Oliveira Matheus Resende, Gomes Allan Costa, Alves André Mota, de Oliveira Nascimento Janilene, Lima Victor Fernando Santana
Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
Laboratory of Animal Parasitic Diseases, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Nossa Senhora da Glória, Sergipe, Brazil.
Acta Parasitol. 2024 Dec;69(4):1961-1966. doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00922-y. Epub 2024 Sep 15.
This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of leishmaniasis in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the state of Sergipe, Brazil, and to evaluate the associated clinical signs.
A total of 31 rabbits from urban and rural areas were clinically examined using cytological, immunological, and serological tests. Blood and cytological samples were collected and analysed for the presence of Leishmania parasites and antibodies. Immunochromatographic tests were used to screen for anti-Leishmania antibodies, and cytological analysis of skin lesions was performed to detect the presence of Leishmania amastigotes.
Of the rabbits tested, 19.35% were reactive in the anti-Leishmania antibody screening, and 3.33% tested positive for Leishmania amastigotes in skin lesion cytology. Clinical signs included cachexia, lymphadenomegaly, dehydration, apathy, dermatitis, ophthalmopathy, and alopecia. Cytological analysis revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation with Leishmania amastigotes present. The findings suggest that leishmaniasis is present among domestic rabbits in this region CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the presence of leishmaniasis in domestic rabbits in the Northeast of Brazil. The findings underline the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in preventing the spread of the disease, and highlight the need for further research into the role of rabbits as potential reservoirs of Leishmania.
本研究旨在调查巴西塞尔希培州家兔（穴兔）利什曼病的发生情况，并评估相关临床症状。
对来自城乡地区的31只兔子进行了细胞学、免疫学和血清学检测。采集血液和细胞学样本，分析利什曼原虫寄生虫和抗体的存在情况。采用免疫层析试验筛查抗利什曼原虫抗体，并对皮肤病变进行细胞学分析以检测利什曼无鞭毛体的存在。
在检测的兔子中，19.35%在抗利什曼原虫抗体筛查中呈阳性反应，3.33%在皮肤病变细胞学检查中利什曼无鞭毛体检测呈阳性。临床症状包括恶病质、淋巴结肿大、脱水、冷漠、皮炎、眼病和脱发。细胞学分析显示存在伴有利什曼无鞭毛体的脓性肉芽肿性炎症。研究结果表明该地区家兔中存在利什曼病。结论：本研究证明巴西东北部家兔中存在利什曼病。研究结果强调了早期诊断和干预对预防疾病传播的重要性，并突出了进一步研究兔子作为利什曼原虫潜在储存宿主作用的必要性。
