Molecular Detection of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and Leishmania (M.) martiniquensis Infecting Domestic Animals from Panama, Central America

<i>Cutaneous leishmaniasis</i> (CL) is a vector-borne zoonotic disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes of animals and humans. While CL is commonly diagnosed and studied in humans in Panama, limited information exists on its occurrence in domestic animals and their potential role as reservoirs. In this study, samples from twelve domestic animals (ten dogs and two horses) with suspected CL lesions were collected between 2021 and 2025 in endemic regions of Panama and evaluated using multiple diagnostic methods. <i>Leishmania</i> infection was confirmed in six of them (50%): five dogs and one horse. Three dogs were infected with <i>Leishmania</i> (<i>Viannia</i>) <i>braziliensis</i>, representing the first molecularly confirmed cases of this species in dogs from Panama and Central America. Two dogs tested positive for <i>Leishmania</i> (<i>Leishmania</i>) <i>infantum,</i> though epidemiological evidence suggests these were imported cases. Notably, <i>Leishmania</i> (<i>Mundinia</i>) <i>martiniquensis</i> was identified in a horse, marking the first report of this species in equines in Central America. These findings indicate a broader diversity of <i>Leishmania</i> species circulating in domestic animals than previously recognized and highlight their potential role in sustaining transmission cycles. The study underscores the need for enhanced surveillance of animal reservoirs to better understand the epidemiology and public health risks of CL in Panama.