Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat in Southeastern Brazil with rare Leishmania guyanensis infection
By Garcia, Thabata Santos et al.·Published in Veterinary research communications·2025·Rachou Institute - Osvaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First report of a cat (Felis catus) infected by Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis from Southeastern Brazil.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A one-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet with small bumps on its nose. After a thorough examination and blood tests, the cat was found to have a rare infection caused by a parasite called Leishmania guyanensis. The vet removed the bumps and confirmed the infection through lab tests. Fortunately, the cat has been monitored regularly since treatment and has not shown any signs of the infection returning. This case highlights the importance of recognizing and diagnosing leishmaniasis in cats.
People also search for: cat skin bumps · feline leishmaniasis treatment · cat nose infection · Leishmania in cats · cat health monitoring
Abstract
Feline leishmaniasis is increasingly recognized as a disease affecting cats worldwide, with notable prevalence in regions surrounding the Mediterranean Basin and in Brazil. An approximately one-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with small papules and nodules (2 mm) on the nasal planum. Physical examination and routine blood analyses were normal. The cat tested negative for FIV and FeLV. Skin biopsies of the lesions were conducted, removing the nodules entirely due to their small size. The samples were submitted for histopathological and molecular analysis. Histopathology confirmed the presence of Leishmania amastigotes, while PCR-RFLP and Sanger sequencing of the hsp70 gene identified the infecting species as Leishmania guyanensis. The patient has since been under continuous clinical monitoring every six months, with no recurrence observed to date. This is the first documented case of L. guyanensis infection in a domestic cat, underscoring the need for improved diagnostic accuracy and a broader understanding of feline leishmaniasis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820985/