Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in captive wild mammals from an urban zoo in a visceral leishmaniasis–endemic area of Brazil

TL;DR

A study found Leishmania infantum DNA in a zoo maned wolf in Brazil, showing wild animals in urban areas can be exposed to visceral leishmaniasis.

Contribution

This is the first report of Leishmania infantum DNA in a zoo-housed wild canid in a visceral leishmaniasis-endemic urban area.

Findings

Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in a clinically healthy maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) at Belo Horizonte Zoo.

The infected animal was housed in an area with high densities of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the primary VL vector.

The findings suggest captive wildlife may be involved in local transmission cycles of visceral leishmaniasis.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a complex zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through the bites of Leishmania-infected phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera:Psychodidae:Phlebotominae). Its transmission dynamics are shaped by environmental, ecological, and anthropogenic factors. Rapid urbanization, landscape modification, and the rising incidence of human and canine VL in endemic cities raise concerns about parasite circulation at the human-wildlife interface, including within captive animal populations housed in urban zoological institutions.

This study was conducted at the Belo Horizonte Zoo (Minas Gerais, Brazil), located in one of city’s most VL-affected districts. We collected 31 skin biopsies and 40 blood samples from 13 captive mammal species—11 primates (Alouatta guariba, Aotus nigriceps, Ateles marginatus, Gorilla gorilla, Lagothrix lagotricha, Leontopithecus rosalia, Leontopithecus chrysopygus, Pan troglodytes, Pithecia irrorata, Saguinus imperator, Sapajus xanthosternos) and 2 carnivores (Chrysocyon brachyurus and Leopardus colocolo). Samples were screened using a complementary molecular diagnostic panel: Leishmania nested PCR (LnPCR), real time PCR (qPCR), and K26 loop-mediated isothermal amplification (K26-LAMP). Leishmania DNA was detected in the blood of a clinically healthy adult maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the LnPCR amplicon confirmed the presence of Leishmania infantum. The animal was housed in an enclosure with documented high densities of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the primary VL vector in the region.

The detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in a zoo-housed wild canid within an VL-endemic urban area highlights the potential exposure of captive wildlife to local transmission cycles. Although infectivity and reservoir competence were not assessed, these findings underscore the importance of integrating minimally invasive molecular surveillance with entomological monitoring in zoological institutions. Such an integrated approach can strengthen One Health surveillance frameworks by enabling early detection of parasite circulation, informing risk-based management strategies, and supporting VL prevention efforts in complex urban environments.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious disease transmitted to humans and animals by infected sand flies. Urban expansion and the increasing incidence of VL raises concerns about parasite circulation at the interface of people, domestic and wild animals, and the environment—including wildlife in urban zoos. In this study, we analyzed 31 skin and 40 blood samples from 13 species of captive primates and carnivores at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, located in a highly VL-endemic area of Brazil. Using molecular diagnostic methods, we detected Leishmania infantum DNA in the blood of a maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), providing evidence that zoo-housed wild animals can become infected in urban endemic settings. Notably, the enclosure housing this animal exhibited a high density of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the primary vector of VL in Brazil. Although our study did not assess the infectivity of the detected parasite or the animal’s capacity to transmit it, our findings underscore the value of integrating molecular surveillance with vector monitoring in zoological institutions. Such an integrated approach aligns with the One Health framework, enabling early detection of parasite circulation at the wildlife–vector–human interface and informing both public health wildlife conservation strategies.

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