Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Can cats pass Leishmania infantum infection to dogs
By Batista, Joilson Ferreira et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2020·Laborató·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Transmission of Leishmania infantum from cats to dogs.
Plain-English summary
A cat infected with Leishmania infantum was found to transmit the infection to a dog through sand flies. In this case, the cat was tested, and the sand flies that fed on it were then allowed to feed on a healthy dog. The dog was monitored over a year, and it was confirmed that the dog became infected with the same strain of Leishmania as the cat. This study highlights the potential for cats to spread this serious infection to dogs, emphasizing the importance of monitoring both species for signs of illness.
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Abstract
Leishmania infantum infection in cats has been reported in several countries, including Brazil. However, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from cats to another host has not been proven yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the possibility of L. infantum transmission from cats to dogs. In order to verify the possibility of VL transmission from the cat to the dog, xenodiagnosis was carried out in a VL-positive cat, using 55 female Lutzomyia longipalpis. Five days later, 40 insects were dissected to verify Leishmania infection. The remaining 15 females were fed in a healthy dog. The potential infection of the dog was verified through clinical, serological, parasitological examinations, and PCR, at three, six, and twelve months post-infection. All 55 L. longipalpis females became visibly engorged. Leishmania promastigotes were detected in 27.5% of the dissected insects. Leishmania infection in the dog was confirmed upon first evaluation. DNA sequencing of the parasite isolated from the cat confirmed L. infantum infection and showed 99% similarity with the L. infantum DNA sequences from the dogs. Through this study, it was possible to confirm the L. infantum experimental transmission from a domestic cat to a domestic dog through its biological vector L. longipalpis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33295378/