Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmania infantum infection in domestic cats in Brazil
By Berenguer, Lais Kelly Amâncio Ribeiro et al.·Published in Acta parasitologica·2021·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Leishmania infantum Infection in a Domestic Cat: A Real Threat or an Occasional Finding?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat in Brazil was found to be infected with Leishmania infantum, the parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis, after showing no noticeable symptoms. The cat was tested using blood samples and a lymph node aspiration, which confirmed the presence of the parasite. This finding is significant as it highlights that cats can also be affected by this disease, especially in areas where it is common in dogs and humans. Pet owners in these regions should be aware of the potential risk and consult their veterinarian if they have concerns about their cat's health.
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Abstract
PURPOSE: Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) has been considered one of the most important neglected zoonosis in the world. In Brazil, this disease passed for an urbanization process and currently pets (dogs and cats) animals have acquired a great importance on its epidemiology. Studies on dogs have been extensively performed throughout the country, but information about infection in cats has been concentrated in few areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of infection by Leishmania infantum in domestic cats living in endemic areas for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Domiciled cats (n = 128) were sampled for different biological samples (i.e., blood, conjunctival swab and fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes) that were microscopically and molecularly analyzed through PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: Amastigote forms of Leishmania sp. were detected in a single animal (fine needle aspiration of lymph node). This same animal scored positive at molecular examination (blood and lymph node) and the sequence analysis revealed an identity higher than 99% with L. infantum sequences DNA available in Genbank database. CONCLUSION: This is the first molecular characterization of L. infantum infecting domestic cats in Pernambuco. Therefore, veterinary practitioners should consider this putative infection in cats living in areas where canine and human Leishmaniasis has been reported.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33044603/