Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood and chemistry changes in cats with leishmaniosis
By Diogo Tiago da Silva et al.·Published in Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária·2023·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline leishmaniosis: hematological and biochemical analysis
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats from animal shelters showed signs of illness, including skin lesions, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. Tests revealed that some of these cats were infected with Leishmania, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. The infected cats had low platelet counts and abnormal protein levels in their blood. If your cat shows similar symptoms, it's important to have them tested for Leishmania, especially if you live in an area where this infection is common. Treatment options can vary, so consult your veterinarian for the best course of action.
People also search for: cat skin lesions · weight loss in cats · Leishmania infection treatment · swollen lymph nodes in cats · cat blood test results
Abstract
Abstract One hundred and sixty-six cats from two animal shelters were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and parasitological tests (PA) for the diagnosis of Leishmania spp. Among them, 15% (25/166), 53.6% (89/166), 3.6% (06/166) and 1.8% (03/166) were positive by ELISA, IFAT, both PCRs and PA, respectively. The sequencing of ITS-1 PCR amplicons revealed a 100% match with Leishmania infantum. After the Leishmania spp. survey, 12 cats were selected and divided into two groups for clinical, hematological, and biochemical analysis: six L. infantum positive cats (G1) and six Leishmania spp. negative cats (G2). All the cats were negative for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A statistical analysis indicated significantly low platelet counts and significant hyperproteinemia associated with hypoalbuminemia in positive cats (p<0.05). Our results suggest that in endemic areas, cats with clinical signs of feline leishmaniosis (such as skin lesions, weight loss and/or enlarged lymph nodes) and that exhibit hematological and biochemical changes, such as low platelet counts and hyperproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia, should be tested for Leishmania spp. infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612023035