Leishmaniasis in Brazil: IV. The fox, Cerdocyon thous (l) as a reservoir of Leishmania donovani in Para state, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmania donovani was isolated from 1 of 6 foxes (Cerdocyon thous L.) from the outskirts of Belém, Pará, Brazil. Isolation was by the intraperitoneal inoculation of hamsters with triturated kidney tissue, these animals showing a generalized visceral infection one month later. Histologically the kidney of the infected fox showed considerable pathological changes, but otherwise the animal appeared perfectly healthy. Kala-azar is only a sporadic disease of man and dogs in the forested regions of the North of Brazil and is probably a zoonosis among the wild animals.