Molecular Detection of Leishmania spp. in Skin and Blood of Stray Dogs from Endemic Areas of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Dogs can act as reservoirs of canine leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania species. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis using a PCR technique among stray dogs living in three provinces of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Al-Ahsa Oasis and Al-Qaseem, where the disease is endemic; and to identify and document different Leishmania to species levels.
METHODS: This cross-sectional investigation was conducted, from Mar 2016 to Apr 2018, in three parts of Saudi Arabia: Central province (Riyadh), Eastern province (Al-Ahsa Oasis) and Al-Qaseem province. Blood samples were collected from 526 dogs; 40 presented cutaneous nodules so were suspected clinically of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Biopsy tissue collections and parasite cultures were performed. A generic kDNA was performed using different primers for Leishmania differentiation.
RESULTS: All blood samples were negative for Leishmania infantum infection by molecular analysis, though forty dogs had thick cutaneous lesions in different parts of their body. Four dogs' skin lesions were associated with dermatitis, splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly. Parasite culture was used to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis, identifying 31/40 (77.5%) positive samples. Overall, of 526 samples, the prevalence of L. major and L. tropica was found to be 4% and 1.9%, respectively. Gender and age had a significant effect on Leishmania prevalence: (P=0.0212 and 0.0357), respectively.
CONCLUSION: This was the first molecular study of dog leishmaniasis from Saudi Arabia of dogs confirmed to have cutaneous leishmaniasis. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations of domestic and wild canine infections with L. major, L. tropica and L. infantum in endemic and nonendemic areas of Saudi Arabia are required, for leishmaniasis control.

Introduction

Leishmaniasis is a disease complex of various clinical manifestations caused by protozoan parasite infection (Leishmania spp.), transmitted through infected female sandfly bites (Phlebotomus spp. or Lutzomyia spp.) (1). This widespread disease was reported as one of the nine parasitic infections by WHO and is commonly seen in tropical and subtropical countries (2, 3). Epidemiological studies in the Middle East showed that anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L.tropica and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major occur in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen (4–6), while visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is reported in many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen (5–7).

In Saudi Arabia, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in different regions (8). The anthroponotic CL - caused by L tropica, transmitted by Ph. sergenti - is more endemic in the southwest and northwest, whereas L. major that causes zoonotic CL (ZCL) - transmitted by sand fly Ph. papatasi, possible reservoir host Psammomys obesus - is more seen in central and eastern regions like Al-Ahsa, Riyadh and Al-Qaseem (9–12). Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is only reported in southwest Saudi Arabia (13–14).

Infected dogs are potential primary reservoirs (15). Cases of cutaneous and visceral infections caused by L. tropica were reported in Iran and Israel (16–18). Additionally, cases of cutaneous infection in L. major infected dogs have been reported in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Israel (19–22). In Saudi Arabia, although stray dogs have presented with clinical disease associated with Leishmania species infection, there is a lack of information on leishmaniasis, particularly in molecular levels. Most previous studies were epidemiological, clinical, histopathological and biochemical (23,24). Since dogs can be infected by sand flies in endemic areas, infected stray dogs may be a mobile risk for nonendemic surrounding areas (25).

Therefore, the objectives of this study were to detect the prevalence rates of CL and VL based on conventional (PCR) among stray dogs in three endemic Saudi provinces - Riyadh, Al-Ahsa Oasis and Al-Qaseem - and to identify and document different Leishmania at species level using a PCR technique.

Materials and Methods

Study areas

The investigation was conducted from Mar 2016 to Apr 2018 in three parts of Saudi Arabia; central province (Riyadh), Eastern province (Al-Ahsa Oasis) and Al-Qaseem province (Fig. 1). Stray dogs were trapped by live bait straps and selected randomly. A filed examination was set up at each location to examine the dogs. Additionally, dogs at veterinary clinics or pre-euthanasia at the municipal from those areas were included.

Fig. 1:

Map of the study area locations in Saudi Arabia

Blood collections

Blood samples from a total of 526 dogs (279 males and 247 females) of varying ages (0≤1 yr to >1 yr old) were collected; a sample of 2–5 ml from each dog from the cephalic vein into EDTA vacuum tubes (BD Vacutainer® Tube, Gribbles Pathology, VIC, Australia) and transported to the parasitological laboratory, Shaqra University for DNA extraction.

Biopsy tissue collections and parasites cultures

Of 526 dogs, forty dogs were suspected for CL and diagnosed clinically by cutaneous nodules or ulcerated lesions present on skin. Skin biopsies of diameter 5mm were taken under sterile conditions from the border of the ulcer, inoculated into medium M199 supplemented (Gibco, Life Technologies, Germany) with 25 mmol/L HEPES (pH:7.5) and 20% fetal bovine serum (Gibco, Germany) followed by incubation (24 °C). Ten days later, parasites were harvested, washed with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH: 7.4) and stored in −20 °C before DNA isolation.

Blood and parasites DNA extraction

DNA from parasite cultures and lesion biopsies was isolated by overnight lysis in NET buffer containing Proteinase K (Sigma) and 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate as described previously (26). For blood samples, a total genomic DNA (gDNA) was isolated using DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), eluted in 50/100 μl of elution buffer as per manufacturer’s instruction. An aliquot (50 μl − 100 μl of gDNA from each sample) was stored at −80 °C prior to sending to the Molecular laboratory, Plymouth University, for PCR analysis. There, gDNA was stored at −20 °C for up to 1 month prior to diagnostics.

Leishmania PCR

For PCR amplification of multiple pathogenic Leishmania species in a single reaction, a generic kDNA was initially performed to amplify a ∼145 bp region of kDNA minicircles (27). The samples positive for L. infantum, L. donovani, L. major and L. tropica by kDNA-PCR were subjected to further rounds using species-specific primers to distinguish Leishmania at species level (Table 1).

Table 1:

Summary of primers used with sequences (5′-3) in the PCR assay

Primer name	Primer sequence (5′-3′)	Annealing temperature	Specificity	Reference
RV1/RV2	F: 5′-CTTTTCTGGTCCCGCGGGTAGG-3′R: 5′-CCACCTGGCCTATTTTACAC-3′	62 °C	Leishmania spp	27
MC1/MC2	F: 5′-GTTAGCCGATGGTGGTCTTG-3′R: 5′-CACCCATTTTTCCGATTTTG-3′	50 °C	L.infantum/donovani	36
F/R	F: 5′- TCGCAGAACGCCCCTACC-3′ R: 5′-AGGGGTTGGTGTAAAATAGGC-3′	60 °C	L.major /L. tropica	37

PCR reaction was performed in a total volume of 50 μL, containing 10 mM Tris-HCl, (pH 9.0), 1.5 mM MgCl2, 50 mM KCl, 200 μM of each deoxynucleotide triphosphate, 1.5 units of Dream Taq DNA polymerase, (Thermo Scientific™, Nalgene, UK), 1 μM of each related primer (RV1/RV2, MC1/MC2 and F/R), and 2 μL of template DNA (10–20 ng of DNA). The reaction was brought to 50 μL total volume with PCR grade water (Invitrogen, Paisley, UK). Leishmania positive controls were used as reference strains, including; L. tropica (MHOM /Sudan/ 58 OD strain), L. major (MHOM/IL/67/Jericho-II), L. infantum (MHOM/ TN/80/IPT1). Reactions were performed in automated thermal cycler (Veriti; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA) and consisted of an initial denaturation step (94 °C/10 min), then 45 cycles of denaturation (95 °C/1 min), primer annealing (62 °C/1.5 min), with an exception for MC1/MC2 primers (50 °C/1.5 min) and F/R primers (62 °C/1 min) and primer extension (72 °C/30 sec). A final extension (72 °C/10 min) was performed and samples held at 4°C. Aliquots of 15 μL PCR product were electrophoresed on a 1.7% agarose gel containing 1μL/mL Syber safe (Thermo Scientific™, UK) in Tris-acetate–EDTA buffer (100V/45 min) and visualized under UV imaging system (ImageQuant Laz4000, GE Healthcare Life Science, UK). The size of each product (e.g.: kDNA minicircles region for L. infantum/donovani complex =447 bp) was estimated by comparison with Gene Ruler 100 bp DNA Ladder Marker (Thermo Scientific™, UK).

Sequencing of Leishmania kDNA

Leishmania species were determined by sending positive samples to Macrogen Europe (Netherlands) to sequence kDNA minicircles using forward primers. Results were compared with sequences available at GenBank database using BLAST (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi). The data will be uploaded onto GenBank for future studies.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS package (ver. 17.0; IBM, New York, USA). The relationship between infection rates and risk factors, such as gender and age, was analyzed using a chi-squared test of significant P-values (P<0.05).

Results

Forty dogs had thick cutaneous lesions (1.5×3 cm) in areas such as mouth, nose, ear, muzzle, abdomen, legs, and between fingers. Ulceration in the left hind foot was noted in a few dogs. Four dogs’ skin lesions were associated with dermatitis, splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly. Parasite culture was used to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis, identified in 31/40 (77.5%) of confirmed positive samples.

Results obtained from PCR using the RV1/RV2 primer set showed 31 (5.9%) of 526 samples were positive for genus Leishmania. Two of 198 Riyadh dogs identified as infected with Leishmania spp., with 18 of 175 and 11 of 153 found positive in Al-Ahsa Oasis and Al-Qaseem, respectively. Further PCR analysis using MC1/MC2 primers revealed negative infection with the L. infantum/donovani complex. Additional PCR analysis using F/R primers confirmed positive infection for L. major with two amplification bands (∼200 bp and ∼620 bp respectively), and L. tropica in predictable amplification at ∼738 bp (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2:

Agarose gel electrophoresis (1.7%) of amplified DNA from collected samples using F/R. M, 100 bp molecular size marker (Generuler); Lane L.m, L. major-positive control DNA (200 bp and 620bp); L.t L. tropica-positive control DNA (738bp); Li, L. infantum-positive control DNA (447bp); N, negative PCR control (water); Lanes1–19, template DNA isolated from stray dog tissue samples from areas during this study shows positive infection with L. major and L. tropica and negative infection with L. infantum

Blast results showed kDNA sequences of L. major and L. tropica - identified from cutaneous lesions - of 99.9% and 99.8%, similar to Pakistan L. major and Iraq L. tropica kDNA with accession numbers HQ727556.1 and MF166799, respectively. The results showed Al-Ahsa Oasis as the most endemic area, with prevalence of L. major (6.3%) and L. tropica (4%). Al-Qaseem was second: L. major (5.2%), L. tropica (2%) (Table 2). Male dogs were most infected with L. major (5.2%), whereas female dogs were most infected with L. tropica (2.4%). Moreover, most infections with L. major and L. tropica were in dogs over one year old (8.1% and 4.5%, respectively). Dog gender and age had significant effects on parasite prevalence: (P=0.0212 and 0.0357), respectively (Table 3).

Table 2:

Prevalence of Leishmania species infecting stray dogs in different regions of Saudi Arabia

Location	Leishmania spp.
	L. major		L. tropica		L. infantum
	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)
Riyadh	2 (1.0)	196 (99)	0	198 (100)	0	198 (100)
Al-Ahsa Oasis	11 (6.3)	164 (93.75)	7 (4.0)	168 (96.0)	0	175 (100)
Al-Qaseem	8 (5.2)	145 (94.8)	3 (2.0)	150 (98.0)	0	153 (100)
Total	21 (4.0)	505 (96.0)	10 (1.9)	516 (98.1)	0	526 (100)

Table 3:

Prevalence and Risk factors associated with Leishmania spp. infection among stray dogs in different regions of Saudi Arabia

Risk Factor	Leishmania spp.						P-value
	L. major		L. tropica		L. infantum
	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)	Positive No (%)	Negative (%)
Gender							0.02
Male	16 (5.7.)	263 (94.2)	4 (1.4)	275 (98.6)	0	279 (100)
Female	5 (2.0)	242 (98.0)	6 (2.4)	241 (97.6)	0	247 (100)
Total	21 (4.0)	505 (96.0)	10 (1.9)	516 (98.1)	0	526 (100)
Age group							0.03
≤1 year	3 (1.0)	301 (99.0)	0	304 (100)	0	304 (100)
>1 year	18 (8.1)	204 (91.9)	10 (4.5%)	212 (95.5)	0	222 (100)
Total	21 (4.0)	505 (96.0)	10 (1.9)	516 (98.1)	0	526 (100)

Discussion

This report was the country’s first extensive molecular and epidemiological study describing dog infections with L. major and L. tropica, common agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern people (2, 15–17).

The study showed cutaneous lesions are the most common manifestation of leishmaniasis in dogs, in agreement with previous studies (28–30). These dogs had cutaneous involvement in different areas. However, the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis based on clinical features is difficult, needing specific laboratory tests (31,32). Due to few reports of L. major and L. tropica infections in dogs, more investigations are needed to confirm accurate clinical signs, standardized serological/hematological methods, and chemical/biochemical parameters. We did not attempt histopathological and microscopic examinations due to the limitation of this study.

Several biochemical, histopathological and serological methods have been used to differentially diagnose Leishmania species, but there are drawbacks: being intensive, time-consuming, and requiring estimating 10–20 enzymes and specific parasite isolating media (33). PCR assays have been proven as appropriate tools for Leishmania species identification (34). However, in endemic regions where more than one Leishmania species exists, diagnostic tools are required to detect and distinguish all suspected cases at species level (35).

In this study, electrophoresis data displayed a product size of approximately 145 bp for RV1/RV2 and 620 bp and 780 bp for F/R primers pairs regions of the kDNA of Leishmania spp and of the L. major and L. tropica, respectively. MC1/MC2 primers pairs were used to amplify 447 bp of the L. infantum/donovani complex. These primers were used in differential molecular diagnosis of Leishmania species causing visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (36–39). Targeting a region of kDNA minicircles appeared effective for detecting Leishmania spp. because of high copy numbers, variability in amplicon size and detection ability <1pg of Leishmania parasite DNA (40–42).

Overall, prevalence of dog CL in these regions was determined at 31/526 dogs (21 cases L. major and 10 cases L. tropica). Two previous Saudi studies that reported natural infections of L. major in dogs using enzymatic biochemical methods (19, 23), but no clinical information was available, no serology was performed or molecular confirmation done as it was unavailable hence, no treatment has been reported. To our knowledge, few studies have determined L. major as a cause of cutaneous manifestations in dogs; though Egyptian, Iranian, and Iraqi studies have confirmed infection with L. major by enzymatic biochemical and serological methods and molecular tools (20, 21, 36, 38). L. tropica infection in dogs has been reported in few countries such as Morocco (43) and Iran (16,44).

This study found all dogs’ samples were negative of L. infantum infection in examined areas. Earlier studies reported L. infantum has been endemic in the South of Saudi Arabia but has not been reported in the other parts of the country (13,14), suggesting that dogs could be reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis in this region. However, L. infantum - spread through Phlebotomus species with dogs acting as reservoirs - are the largest source of human L. infantum infection (45, 46). However, in Saudi Arabia, the role of Phlebotomus species in VL transmission is still unknown and surveys that are more molecular are needed.

Our results showed that gender and age significantly affect the prevalence of canine Leishmania infection, with males more infected than females (P>0.0212) and adults more than younger dogs (P>0.0357). Other studies reported dogs under a year old being infected with L. major (22, 29) and both young infected with L. major and L. tropica (16, 30) and dogs over 5 yr old infected with L. tropica (45). The higher leishmaniasis in male and adult dogs in this study might be due to primarily examining males, or attributed to several factors such as dog migration or traveling to regions where flies are common, poor management or body condition leading to weak immunity, stress, and fly preference. However, investigations that are more molecular are required on domestic and wild animals infected with L. major and L. tropica may be more prevalent in endemic areas. Moreover, epidemiological surveys are needed on the role of Phlebotomus species cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis transmission in Saudi Arabia.

Conclusion

This is a first molecular study of dog leishmaniasis from Saudi Arabia confirmed to have cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major and L. tropica. The relationship between the disease vectors and reservoirs with transmission cycle in endemic areas of Saudi Arabia still unknown. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations are required for implementation of future cutaneous leishmaniasis control programs.