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. 2023 Nov;122(11):2631-2639.
doi: 10.1007/s00436-023-07961-w. Epub 2023 Sep 5.

Anti-Leishmania spp. antibody detection in domestic cats from a visceral leishmaniasis transmission area

Gabriela Hartmann  1 , Isac Junior Roman  2 , Douglas Miotto Lorenzetti  3 , Alana Pivoto Herbichi  3 , Renata Dalcol Mazaro  3 , Matheus Yuri Dos Santos  3 , Alexandre Alberto Tonin  4 , Fernanda Silveira Flôres Vogel  2 , Rafael Almeida Fighera  3
Affiliations

Anti-Leishmania spp. antibody detection in domestic cats from a visceral leishmaniasis transmission area

Gabriela Hartmann et al. Parasitol Res. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Feline leishmanial infection is reported worldwide, but the epidemiological role of domestic cats in the leishmaniasis cycle remains unclear, and cats might act as cryptic reservoir hosts in endemic areas with no feline leishmaniosis cases. Considering that, a serological screening for anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies was performed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) in 389 necropsied cats' serum samples from a new visceral leishmaniasis transmission area with no feline leishmanial infection reported to unveil if the cats are being exposed to the parasite. The overall seroprevalence for Leishmania spp. was 11.05% (43/389). No association was found between sex, neutering status, age group, breed, coat length, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection, and Leishmania spp. antibody detection. A positive association was found with coat color (cats within the orange spectrum with white [particolor]) (OR = 2.47, CI 95% 1 - 6.13, P = 0.044) and a negative association (OR = 0.38, CI 95% 0.18 - 0.79, P = 0.01) between feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and IFAT positivity for Leishmania spp. Therefore, it is concluded that the seroprevalence found was greater than 10%, indicating contact of the protozoan with cats in the region served.

Keywords: Coat color; Feline leishmaniosis; Feline leukemia virus (FeLV); Indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT).

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