Molecular detection of Leishmania in cutaneous scrapping and blood samples of dogs in Mosul city

Abstract
This study included 92 dogs of both sexes with various breeds, health statuses, and ages\r\nranging from 2 months to 4 years old. Samples, including cutaneous lesions or scars and\r\nblood, were collected via the cephalic vein into EDTA tubes. The buffy coat was separated\r\nfrom the blood using lymph prep, and DNA was extracted from both blood and scars using\r\na commercial kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was attempted to investigate the DNA\r\nof. Leishmania, using LITSR and L5.8S primers to detect the ITS1 gene of Leishmania. The\r\nresults showed that 22 animals were infected with leishmaniasis, with the highest positive\r\nresults recorded in buffy coat samples compared to skin biopsy samples. According to the\r\nclinical signs, animals suffering from skin lesions recorded higher positive outcomes than\r\nthose with other clinical manifestations. There was a higher positivity rate in male and\r\nRottweiler dogs compared to different groups of dogs. Older dogs up to 4 years old showed\r\na lower infection prevalence than dogs younger than one-year-old, which recorded a higher\r\npositivity rate with significant variability in the age of dogs.

Author
Dhary Alewy Almashhadany

DOI
DOI: 10.33899/ijvs.2023.138603.2815

Publisher
Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

ISSN
2071-1255

Publish Date: