Diagnosis of leishmaniasis in the animal reservoir

Research on the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in peri-urban settings. Identification of potential atypical reservoirs of Leishmania. Diagnosis of infection using indirect (indirect inmunofluorescence assay) and direct (PCR) techniques in biological samples from different hosts and vectors. Determination of the prevalence of leishmaniasis in animal reservoirs using serological and molecular techniques Analysis of potential risk/protective factors associated with the presence of the parasite Set up of new diagnostic tools Molecular characterization of L. infantum isolates