First detection of Leishmania infantum in dogs and wild-caught Culicoides oxystoma in Hainan Province, Southern China.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
- 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Somali National University, Mogadishu, Somalia.
- 4Hainan International One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China.
- 5Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. [email protected].
- 6Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. [email protected].
- 7Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. [email protected].
- 8Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Leishmaniases are neglected parasitic diseases expanding globally. In China, Leishmania infantum, which isendemic in the west, has reemerged and spread to the central part of the country, raising concerns about further potential expansion. Given limited data from southern China, this study investigated the presence of Leishmania spp. infection in dogs and potential vectors in Haikou, Hainan, China's southernmost Province.Methods
Blood, conjunctival swabs, and lymph node aspirates were collected from 52 dogs at two shelters, where an entomological survey using CDC light traps was also performed. Leishmania DNA was amplified by kDNA and ITS1 PCR. A commercial rapid test (SNAP® Leish 4Dx®; IDEXX, USA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) were used to detect antibodies against L. infantum. Insects were morphologically and molecularly identified, and tested for Leishmania by ITS1 PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood and neighbour-joining trees constructed in MEGA X.Results
Overall, 4 of 52 dogs (7.7%) tested serologically (n = 3) or molecularly (n = 1, conjunctival swab by kDNA PCR) positive for Leishmania species. Two dogs tested positive for antibodies on the commercial rapid test, including one with generalized lymphadenomegaly, and a third dog was IFAT positive (1:160). No sand flies and 1568 Culicoides were captured. Leishmania DNA sequences (10 L. infantum, 1 L. tarentolae) were detected in 11/224 non-engorged female Culicoides oxystoma and clustered within their corresponding phylogenetic clades.Conclusions
This study provides the first evidence of Leishmania spp. DNA and antibodies in dogs and L. infantum and L. tarentolae DNA in biting midges from Hainan Province. Ongoing surveillance of competent vectors and dogs in this region is advocated.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{manathunga2026first,
title = {{First detection of Leishmania infantum in dogs and wild-caught Culicoides oxystoma in Hainan Province, Southern China.}},
author = {Thamali Manathunga and Mariaelisa Carbonara and Marcos Antonio Bezerra-Santos and Kassim Abdullahi Jimale and Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan and Riccardo Paolo Lia and Hongxiao Yu and Ping Chen and Qian Han and Domenico Otranto and Vanessa R Barrs},
journal = {BMC veterinary research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12917-026-05735-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968181},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - First detection of Leishmania infantum in dogs and wild-caught Culicoides oxystoma in Hainan Province, Southern China.
AU - Thamali Manathunga
AU - Mariaelisa Carbonara
AU - Marcos Antonio Bezerra-Santos
AU - Kassim Abdullahi Jimale
AU - Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan
AU - Riccardo Paolo Lia
AU - Hongxiao Yu
AU - Ping Chen
AU - Qian Han
AU - Domenico Otranto
AU - Vanessa R Barrs
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - BMC veterinary research
DO - 10.1186/s12917-026-05735-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968181
AB - Background Leishmaniases are neglected parasitic diseases expanding globally. In China, Leishmania infantum, which isendemic in the west, has reemerged and spread to the central part of the country, raising concerns about further potential expansion. Given limited data from southern China, this study investigated the presence of Leishmania spp. infection in dogs and potential vectors in Haikou, Hainan, China's southernmost Province.Methods Blood, conjunctival swabs, and lymph node aspirates were collected from 52 dogs at two shelters, where an entomological survey using CDC light traps was also performed. Leishmania DNA was amplified by kDNA and ITS1 PCR. A commercial rapid test (SNAP® Leish 4Dx®; IDEXX, USA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) were used to detect antibodies against L. infantum. Insects were morphologically and molecularly identified, and tested for Leishmania by ITS1 PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood and neighbour-joining trees constructed in MEGA X.Results Overall, 4 of 52 dogs (7.7%) tested serologically (n = 3) or molecularly (n = 1, conjunctival swab by kDNA PCR) positive for Leishmania species. Two dogs tested positive for antibodies on the commercial rapid test, including one with generalized lymphadenomegaly, and a third dog was IFAT positive (1:160). No sand flies and 1568 Culicoides were captured. Leishmania DNA sequences (10 L. infantum, 1 L. tarentolae) were detected in 11/224 non-engorged female Culicoides oxystoma and clustered within their corresponding phylogenetic clades.Conclusions This study provides the first evidence of Leishmania spp. DNA and antibodies in dogs and L. infantum and L. tarentolae DNA in biting midges from Hainan Province. Ongoing surveillance of competent vectors and dogs in this region is advocated.
SN - 1746-6148
ER -