Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood and chemistry changes in cats with leishmaniosis
By Silva, Diogo Tiago da et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2023·Laborató·View original on PubMed →
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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. Testing revealed that 15% of them were infected with Leishmania, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. The infected cats had lower platelet counts and abnormal protein levels in their blood compared to healthy cats. If your cat shows similar symptoms, especially in areas where Leishmania is common, it's important to have them tested for this infection. Treatment options can vary, so consulting your veterinarian is crucial for the best care.
People also search for: cat skin lesions · weight loss in cats · swollen lymph nodes in cats · Leishmania treatment for cats · cat blood test results
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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37377321/