Leishmaniasis in a domestic goat in Kenya

The pathological and electron-microscopic features of the first case of autochthonous leishmaniasis affecting a domestic goat in Kenya are described. They are similar to what have been described in man and other animals. Using a short amino-acid sequence common to all the species of leishmania as primers for kDNA synthesis, the intervening sequence of 120 bases was amplified in the goat's tissues by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The leishmania kinetoplast DNA sequence was detected in all the different infected tissues of the goat examined. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay are discussed. The result of the assay used was consistent with the parasite being either L. major or L. aethiopica as the infecting agent. The isoenzyme studies were consistent with L. aethiopica as the strain responsible for this goat's infection. The control of leishmaniasis and its vector must take into account the potential role of animal reservoirs in the environment. Even though Kenya and other East African countries are endemic for kala-azar, the presence of kala-azar in goats is of considerable veterinary public health importance in Africa. Efforts must not be spared to identify and detect other possible animal reservoirs in the subregion. Using DNA amplification techniques, which are sensitive and specific, such as the one described in this paper, sera and other biological fluids and tissues from different animal species should be utilized for detecting additional reservoirs for leishmania parasites particularly in known endemic areas of the world.