<i>Leishmania tarentolae</i> and <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in geckos from Mallorca Island, Spain.

ABSTRACT: Leishmania tarentolae and Leishmania infantum are two sympatric parasites of significant ecological and epidemiological interest in the Mediterranean basin. This study investigated the PCR prevalence of L. tarentolae and L. infantum in two gecko species (Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus) present on Mallorca Island, Spain, using duplex quantitative PCR. A total of 59 geckos were sampled across the island, including 53 T. mauritanica and six H. turcicus. Tissue and blood samples were screened by PCR for both parasites. The results revealed the prevalence of Leishmania infection in adult T. mauritanica, with 10/49 (20.41 %) testing PCR positive for L. tarentolae only and with 1/49 (2.04 %) for L. in

SUBMITTER: Marti-Carreras J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12493235 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature