Leishmania in Marsupials—An Overview of Infection Records in the Americas and Australia

Abstract

Marsupials have been the subjects of studies of both experimental and natural infections with different species of Leishmania in the Americas as well as Australia. Over a century has passed since the first description of a mammal being infected with Leishmania and since then several reviews have been published on the systematics of the parasites as well as their hosts. Consequently, an update of this information is needed in order to assure correct identification of the species involved in each case. A comprehensive review was undertaken and included most of the records of marsupials being infected with Leishmania sp. Emphasis was placed on parasitological, eco epidemiological and taxonomic information of both the parasites and mammalian hosts. The clinical profiles of the infections varied from severe, which principally occurred in experimentally infected animals, to asymptomatic, which was typical of natural infections. Marsupials must be considered one of the most important groups of mammalian hosts of Leishmania sp. Important factors, such as their ancient origin, wide geographical distribution and susceptibility to infections by different species of Leishmania, but with considerable resistance to the disease, could indicate that didelphids play a key role in the evolution of Leishmania in the New World.