Evaluation of an active and early surveillance methodology for visceral leishmaniasis by molecular detection in road-killed wild fauna

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate a methodology for active surveillance of visceral leishmaniasis by detecting Leishmania DNA in organs of wild road-killed animals from November 2016 to October 2018 in the North of Paraná, Brazil. The collection points of road-killed wild animals were georeferenced. The animals were autopsied and samples of bone marrow, lymph node, liver, spleen, and ear skin were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR for amplification of Leishmania spp. 18S, kinetoplastic DNA (kDNA), HSP70, and ITS1 genes, and DNA sequencing was performed. The primers used for the amplification of kDNA, ITS1, and HSP70 genes presented non-specific results. Of the 66 mammals collected from 24 different municipalities, one Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) presented DNA of Leishmania spp. in lymph nodes by 18S PCR. DNA sequencing confirmed the results of the subgenus, Viannia, identification. We suggest using the methodology showed in the present study in the active and early surveillance of visceral leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area.