Detection of Leishmania (V) guyanensis in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from Pecari tajacu.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies identified the presence of Leishmania infantum in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and indicated the possibility that it could transmit leishmaniasis to a variety of hosts.

OBJECTIVE: To identify parasites of Leishmania (Viannia) spp. in ticks collected from wild animals in an endemic area for leishmaniasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 81 individual DNA extractions from ticks collected from three Tapirus terrestris and three Pecari tajacu in Madre de Dios, Perú. Ticks were taxonomically identified and they were subsequently prepared to identify Leishmania (Viannia) spp. kDNA by PCR and the species of Leishmania by HRM-PCR.

RESULTS: Leishmania (Viannia) kDNA was detected in three wild ticks of the species R. microplus, collected from a collard peccary (P. tajacu) hunted in the forests of Madre de Dios. The HRM-PCR showed that one of the positive samples had a kDNA curve compatible with L. (V) guyanensis.

CONCLUSION: The results showed the presence of L. (V) guyanensis DNA in R. microplus possibly acquired after biting a collarde peccary. Therefore, it is important to design future studies to clarify R. microplus involvement in the transmission of leishmaniasis.