Therapeutic use of mesenchymal stem cells may be a means of transmitting leishmaniasis in dogs

Abstract

The aim of this case report is to record the finding of leishmaniasis-causing parasites in mesenchymal stem cells from dogs from a non-endemic area, which were negative when submitted to the RIFI and ELISA tests, a fact that had not been documented until now. This demonstrates that this widely distributed and lethal zoonosis can escape traditional means of diagnosis and that stem cell therapy has the potential to be a source of transmission of the disease. Although the relative safety of stem cell therapy is presumed, the possible risks associated with its use, especially the risk of parasite transmission, cannot be ignored. It is therefore essential to develop rigorous screening and testing protocols to ensure the safety of stem cell therapy.