Diagnóstico molecular da leishmaniose visceral canina através da técnica de sonda de nanopartículas de ouro (AuNPprobes)

Abstract

The Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi and transmitted by the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis and L. cruzi. The dog is the main reservoir of the disease. The Ministry of Health recommends euthanizing dogs reagents for serological surveys as a way to control the disease. But the possibility of cross-reactivity and the occurrence of coinfection with other trypanosomatids has warned about the use of more accurate diagnostic tools. This project aimed to study the LVC through the probe gold nanoparticles (AuNPprobes) and benchmark LVC diagnostic methods, using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the AuNPprobes and PCR in tissues of organs such as liver. The results showed that when compared to the AuNPprobe IFA showed a sensitivity and specificity of 56% and 80%, respectively. Already when compared to PCR, the AuNPprobe had a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 81%. The PCR when compared with IFA showed better sensitivity and specificity of the three methods, 76% and 100% respectively. The overall result obtained during this project are very encouraging for the applicability AuNPprobe methodology to detect L. (L.) infantum chagasi.