Animals as reservoir hosts for Leishmania in Qualyobia Governorate, Egypt

A total of 239 rodents were collected from El-Khanka, Shebin El-Kanater, El-Kanater, Shoubra El Khima, Qualiob, Tokh, Benha and Kafr-Shokr and identified as Mus musculus (30), Rattus rattus (78), Rattus norvegicus (35), Arvicanthus niloticus (62) and Acomys cahirinus (34). Examination of these rodents showed the presence of cutaneous lesions in two R. rattus, three R. norvegicus and one A. cahirinus which showed no Leishmania parasites neither by smear nor by culture. On examination of the liver, spleen and bone marrow parasitologically, the spleen of two R. norvegicus grew promastigotes, one was lost and the other was typed. Serological examination of rodents revealed antileishmanial antibodies in one A. niloticus and in two R. norvegicus by IHAT and in one R. rattus by Dot-ELISA. A total of 33 stray dogs trapped from El-Khanka Shebin El-Kanater and Qualiob were free from natural Leishmania infection as indicated clinically, parasitologically and serologically.