ArticleParasites & vectors2018
First report of Leishmania infantum infection in the endangered orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) in Madrid, Spain.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- World Association for Veterinary Dermatology Consensus Statement for Diagnosis, and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment and Prevention of Canine Leishmaniosis.Veterinary dermatology · 2025Guideline
- Serosurveillance of Leishmania infantum in Zoo-Kept Animals in Spain.Zoonoses and public health · 2026Article
- Naturally acquired visceral leishmaniosis in a captive white-naped mangabey (Cercocebus lunulatus) in Spain.Veterinary research communications · 2025Article
- Article
- First clinical cases of leishmaniosis in meerkats (Suricata suricatta) housed in wildlife parks in Madrid, Spain.Parasites & vectors · 2025Article
- Is leishmaniasis the new emerging zoonosis in the world?Veterinary research communications · 2023Review
- Wildlife Hosts ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- A Systematic Review (1990-2021) of Wild Animals Infected with ZoonoticMicroorganisms · 2021Review
- Antibodies elicited by the CaniLeish® vaccine: long-term clinical follow-up study of dogs in Spain.Parasitology research · 2021Article
- New Epidemiological Aspects of Animal Leishmaniosis in Europe: The Role of Vertebrate Hosts Other Than Dogs.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Serological and Molecular Findings ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019Article
- Competence of non-human primates to transmit Leishmania infantum to the invertebrate vector Lutzomyia longipalpis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSome wild animals have been recognized as potential reservoirs of Leishmania infantum infection (e.g. carnivores, lagomorphs, rodents, etc.). Leishmania infantum was also identified infecting humans and lagomorphs (i.e. hares and rabbits) over the period of 2009-2016, with the latter acting as the main reservoirs involved in the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid.
resultsTwo cases of clinical leishmaniosis are reported in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) housed at two different centres in Madrid. The first is the case of a 36-year-old male orangutan with severe weight loss and apathy. A complete blood count and biochemical profile revealed anaemia, neutropenia, hypoalbuminaemia and elevated transaminases. Hepato-splenomegaly was also observed. Four months later, due to worsening of clinical signs (mainly bilateral epistaxis), blood and bone marrow samples were collected. Amastigotes of L. infantum were detected in macrophages from a bone marrow aspirate and by specific polymerase chain reaction. The second case was a 34-year-old female orangutan with severe weight loss and apathy and no other apparent clinical signs. A complete blood count and biochemical profile revealed anaemia, pancytopenia and hypoalbuminaemia. Splenomegaly and pericardial effusion were also observed. As leishmaniosis was included in the differential diagnosis, both blood and bone marrow samples were collected. Leishmania infantum infection was confirmed by microscopy, molecular diagnosis and serology (immunofluorescence antibody test). Both animals were treated daily with oral miltefosine for 28 days; allopurinol was also given uninterruptedly in Case 2 for at least 6 months. During follow-up, though good clinical recovery was clear, a lack of parasitological cure was confirmed molecularly in both blood and bone marrow samples from the two orangutans. In both habitats, the presence of the sand fly vector identified as Phlebotomus perniciosus was confirmed.
conclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of L. infantum infection in great apes and in the endangered species P. p. pygmaeus. We are presently looking for L. infantum in other non-human primates living in the same peri-urban areas. If detected, we will examine the impacts of this serious disease on these critically endangered species.
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