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Leishmania infantum is present in vaginal secretions of naturally infected bitches at lower levels in oestrogenized bitches than in non-oestrogenized bitches

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Abstract

Naturally Leishmania infantum infected bitches were divided into oestrogenized (n = 11) and non-oestrogenized (n = 6) groups. Vaginal secretions were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and vulval, vaginal and uterine tissues were collected for the immunohistochemical (IHQ) identification of L. infantum. Parasite DNA was identified in vaginal secretions of non-oestrogenized (41.8%) and oestrogenized (18.2%) bitches (P<0.05; Fisher’s Exact test). IHQ was positive in vulvar dermis (23.5%) and vaginal mucosa (17.7%) but negative in endometrium of all bitches. Poor association between positive vaginal secretion PCR and tissue IHQ (Kappa index) were observed. The results showed that genital secretions are a potential source for dog contamination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Rua do Rosário 1081, Bairro Angola, Betim, Minas Gerais, 32604-115, Brazil

    Alinne Gonçalves Magro, Viviane Pedersoli Assis, Lucélia Coimbra Silva & Guilherme Ribeiro Valle

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia de Vertebrados da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Bairro Coração Eucarístico, Av. Dom José Gaspar 500, prédio 41, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30140-100, Brazil

    Guilherme Ribeiro Valle

  3. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil

    Wagner Luiz Tafuri, Soraia Oliveira Silva & Maria Norma Melo

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  1. Alinne Gonçalves Magro
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  2. Viviane Pedersoli Assis
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  3. Lucélia Coimbra Silva
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  4. Wagner Luiz Tafuri
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  5. Soraia Oliveira Silva
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  6. Maria Norma Melo
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  7. Guilherme Ribeiro Valle
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Correspondence to Guilherme Ribeiro Valle.

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Magro, A.G., Assis, V.P., Silva, L.C. et al. Leishmania infantum is present in vaginal secretions of naturally infected bitches at lower levels in oestrogenized bitches than in non-oestrogenized bitches. Acta Parasit. 62, 625–629 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0076

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0076

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