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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(18); 2677; doi: 10.3390/ani15182677

Molecular Detection of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and Leishmania (M.) martiniquensis Infecting Domestic Animals from Panama, Central America.

Abstract: (CL) is a vector-borne zoonotic disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes of animals and humans. While CL is commonly diagnosed and studied in humans in Panama, limited information exists on its occurrence in domestic animals and their potential role as reservoirs. In this study, samples from twelve domestic animals (ten dogs and two horses) with suspected CL lesions were collected between 2021 and 2025 in endemic regions of Panama and evaluated using multiple diagnostic methods. infection was confirmed in six of them (50%): five dogs and one horse. Three dogs were infected with () , representing the first molecularly confirmed cases of this species in dogs from Panama and Central America. Two dogs tested positive for () though epidemiological evidence suggests these were imported cases. Notably, () was identified in a horse, marking the first report of this species in equines in Central America. These findings indicate a broader diversity of species circulating in domestic animals than previously recognized and highlight their potential role in sustaining transmission cycles. The study underscores the need for enhanced surveillance of animal reservoirs to better understand the epidemiology and public health risks of CL in Panama.
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Publication Date: 2025-09-12 PubMed ID: 41007920PubMed Central: PMC12466877DOI: 10.3390/ani15182677Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Molecular techniques were used to detect the presence of different Leishmania species in domestic animals from Panama, revealing new host infections and emphasizing the importance of animals in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

Background and Importance

  • Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic, vector-borne disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes of both animals and humans.
  • In Panama, human CL cases are frequently studied and diagnosed, but there is limited data about how domestic animals may harbor the parasite and contribute to the transmission cycle.
  • Understanding infection in domestic animals is crucial to control and predict disease spread, since animals may act as reservoirs for the parasite.

Study Design and Methods

  • Samples were collected from twelve domestic animals displaying suspected CL lesions, consisting of ten dogs and two horses.
  • Sample collection was conducted between 2021 and 2025 in regions endemic for CL within Panama.
  • Various diagnostic methods were used to detect and confirm Leishmania infection, including molecular techniques for species identification.

Key Findings

  • Leishmania infection was confirmed in six out of the twelve animals (50%), including five dogs and one horse.
  • Three dogs were found infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, representing the first molecularly confirmed infections of this species in dogs from Panama and Central America.
  • Two dogs tested positive for Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis; however, epidemiological data suggests these infections were likely imported rather than locally acquired.
  • The horse was identified as infected with L. (M.) martiniquensis, marking the first reported case of this parasite species infecting equines in Central America.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The study reveals a broader diversity of Leishmania species infecting domestic animals in Panama than previously recognized.
  • These domestic animals may play an important role in maintaining the transmission cycles of CL parasites.
  • Findings highlight the need for improved surveillance and diagnostic efforts focused on domestic animals to better understand the epidemiology of CL.
  • Enhanced knowledge of animal reservoirs can inform public health strategies to reduce disease transmission risks to humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Pineda V, Calzada JE, Montilla S, Rodríguez I, Howard E, Torres AI, Vasquez V, Reina A, Saldaña A, González K. (2025). Molecular Detection of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and Leishmania (M.) martiniquensis Infecting Domestic Animals from Panama, Central America. Animals (Basel), 15(18), 2677. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182677

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 18
PII: 2677

Researcher Affiliations

Pineda, Vanessa
  • Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
Calzada, Jose E
  • Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
  • Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Panama, Panama 0816-03366, Panama.
Montilla, Santiago
  • Estación Biomédica Experimental, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
Rodríguez, Indra
  • Clínica Veterinaria Mundo Animal, Panama 0816-03352, Panama.
Howard, Erika
  • Clínica de Diagnóstico Integral Veterinario (CADIV), Panama 0816-46686, Panama.
Torres, Alicia I
  • Departamento de Clínicas y Cirugías Veterinarias, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Complejo Hospitalario Veterinario de Corozal, Universidad de Panamá, Panama 0816-03366, Panama.
Vasquez, Vanessa
  • Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
Reina, Adelys
  • Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
Saldaña, Azael
  • Centro de Investigación y Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Parasitarias (CIDEP), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá, Panama 0816-03366, Panama.
González, Kadir
  • Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama 0816-02593, Panama.
  • Departamento de Microbiología Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá, Panama 0816-03366, Panama.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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