Sexual and vertical transmission of visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum, which has in the domestic dog its principal vertebrate host in urban environments. VL is usually transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, however atypical routes of transmission have been described. In this review we discuss the role of sexual and vertical transmissions, and their implications in the maintenance of VL in canine populations. © 2014 Turchetti et al.