136289 20260217205524.0 doi 10.3390/ani14131860 sideral 139256 ART-2024-139256 eng Bauer, Benjamin Ulrich First evidence of leishmania infantum antibodies in sheep (ovis aries) from southern germany 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the most prevalent Leishmania species, and this protozoan is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. A recent publication has shown that sheep harbor L. infantum antibodies. This raises questions about the epidemiological role of small ruminants. Therefore, sera from small ruminants located in two southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) and Bavaria (BAV), were analyzed with an ELISA to determine the presence of L. infantum antibodies. The species, sex and age (gimmer vs. ewe) were recorded, and a univariate analysis was conducted to determine possible associations. In total, seven sheep flocks (274 sheep/10 goats) from BW and seven sheep flocks (277 sheep/78 goats) from BAV were examined. In BW, four sheep from three flocks tested positive for L. infantum antibodies. In BAV, the same number of positive sheep were detected but in four flocks. The total seropositivity rate in sheep was 1.45%. All goats tested negative. No significant association (p > 0.05) was detected between Leishmania seropositivity and the variables evaluated. Our study reveals the exposure of sheep to L. infantum in a non-endemic area. Further investigation is needed to determine whether sheep can be used as sentinels to identify new phlebotomine habitats and Leishmania risk areas. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 2.7 2024 VETERINARY SCIENCES 21 / 170 = 0.124 2024 Q1 T1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE 15 / 86 = 0.174 2024 Q1 T1 0.733 2024 Veterinary (miscellaneous) 2024 Q1 Animal Science and Zoology 2024 Q1 5.2 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Lebrero, María Eugenia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-5816-6167 Ganter, Martin Navarro, Teresa Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-4557-6033 Fernández, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-2557-4890 Ruíz de Arcaute, Marta Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-7655-2472 Ortín, Aurora Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0313-5926 Villanueva-Saz, Sergio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-6209-4282 Marteles, Diana Universidad de Zaragoza Ruiz, Héctor Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-8474-2831 Climent, María Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0606-0763 Quílez, Pablo Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0009-0003-9757-3840 Lacasta, Delia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-7822-6646 1001 025 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Anatom.,Embri.Genét.Ani. Área Anatom.Anatom.Patológ.Com 1009 617 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal 14, 13 (2024), 1860 [8 pp.] Animals (Basel) Animals 2076-2615 781356 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/136289/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2804975 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/136289/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:136289 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:29:57 ARTICLE