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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

In Vivo Imaging of Leishmania infantum-infected Hamsters by Gingival Inoculation of Axenic Amastigotes Expressing Luciferase
Published on: April 4, 2025
Comparison between splenic and lymph node aspirations as sampling methods for the parasitological detection of
Stella Maria Barrouin-Melo1, Daniela Farias Larangeira, Joelma Trigo
1Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, ru Valdemar Falcão 121,40295-001 Salvador, BA, Brasil. sbarrouin@cpqgm.fiocruz.br
Abstract:
The sensitivities of spleen and lymph node cultures for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis were compared in 64 anti-Leishmania antibody positive dogs from an endemic area in Brazil. The sensitivity of spleen cultures for Leishmania detection was 97.9%; in lymph node cultures it was 25%. Positive spleen culture was more frequent (p = 0.048, Fisher's exact probability test) in symptomatic (28 out of 33 animals) than in asymptomatic animals (19 out of 31 animals). These results support the use of spleen instead of lymph node aspiration as the choice method for the parasitological diagnosis of the infection.

