Feline Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania infantum: Parasite Sequencing, Seropositivity, and Clinical Characterization in an Endemic Area From Brazil

Abstract

Zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is a disease of One Health concern since human and animal cases and environmental damage are interconnected. L. infantum has a complex epidemiological cycle with multiple hosts, including mammals—humans, domestic, and wild animals—and arthropod vectors. Knowledge on mammal infections in endemic areas is crucial for developing control strategies. This work aimed to detect and characterize L. infantum infection in domestic cats from areas where human and canine leishmaniasis cases occur. No cases of feline leishmaniasis (FeL) had been previously reported in those areas. Five municipalities from Bahia state were chosen, comprising 2,480.8 km2 with 1,103,866 inhabitants. Ninety domiciliated and/or sheltered cats underwent clinical examination and serology by a rapid reference test recommended by the Brazilian government. Cytology, PCR, and parasite DNA sequencing were performed in bone marrow samples. Rapid tests detected antibodies in 5.6% (5/90) of the cats. Leishmania infantum infection was confirmed in 7.8% (7/90) of the cats by PCR, sequencing, and parasite isolation. Three out of the five municipalities (60%) had infected cats, and PCR positivity varied from 6.9 to 29%. One cat was categorized as harboring active L. infantum infection with amastigote forms in bone marrow smears. No clinical signs were detected at the first clinical exam, but 1 month later the cat developed severe FeL. The cat isolate was grown in culture, typed and its DNA sequence was homologous to the L. infantum reference strain (PP75). In conclusion, cats are potential hosts and may acquire L. infantum in endemic areas where canine and human cases occur. For cats, the need for surveillance, differential diagnosis and clinical care is highly recommended since a fast clinical progression of FeL developed in a subclinical animal. An accurate standardized immunodiagnostic assay for FeL is warranted.

A case report of leishmaniosis with primary oral manifestation in a cat

“…Regardless of the identification of periodontal disease and tooth resorption, caudal stomatitis is a lesion pattern that distinguishes CGS in cats from other oral conditions (9); however, this finding was not observed in this case. Considering the localized pattern of the lesion observed here and those observed in previous literature (1,6), localized nodular lesions are probably primary lesions secondary to Leishmania infection. CGS is a multifactorial disease in which chronic viral antigenic stimulation seems to be a strong contributor to antigenic stimulation that leads to specific histopathological features (9)(10)(11)(12).…”

“…Most lesions are cutaneous, specifically pinna and periocular, in the head area (3). Gum lesions have also been described as clinical signs of leishmaniosis (1). Some authors describe lesions as chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS) (1,4,5) and others as mucocutaneous nodular lesions (6)(7)(8).…”

“…Gum lesions have also been described as clinical signs of leishmaniosis ( 1 ). Some authors describe lesions as chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS) ( 1 , 4 , 5 ) and others as mucocutaneous nodular lesions ( 6 – 8 ). In this case, the oral mucosal lesion had a nodular appearance extending from the gingiva to the buccal mucosa (stomatitis), and was unilateral, ulcerative, hemorrhagic, and painful on inspection, in contrast to the bilateral generalized pattern found in CGS.…”

“…Leishmania infantum infection in cats is less frequent due to the natural resistance of this species to the parasite, and dogs are the main reservoir of this protozoan. Clinical manifestations are mainly dermatological or visceral, although oral lesions such as gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontitis have also been reported ( 1 ). To the best of our knowledge, there are no detailed cases of the primary oral manifestations of feline leishmaniosis.…”

Luto Da Covid-19 E Isolamento Social: Um Olhar De Atenção Aos Idosos Sob a Luz Da Psicologia

“…A primeira se aloja na probóscide do flebotomíneo e infecta o hospedeiro vertebrado durante o repasto sanguíneo. A partir desse momento, deslocam-se para os órgãos linfoides secundários, de forma a infectar células do sistema fagocítico mononuclear (SFM), como monócitos, histiócitos e macrófagos(REY, 2001).Após o período de incubação, que varia de um mês a sete anos, formas amastigotas começam a se desenvolver e se multiplicam por fissão binária até o rompimento da célula hospedeira e disseminação hematogênica e linfática, atraindo outros macrófagos através de uma reação inflamatória(SANTA-ROSA & OLIVEIRA, 1997;REY, 2001).Ao se alimentar de um hospedeiro infectado, o vetor adquire a forma amastigota do protozoário, a qual é liberada em seu trato digestivo. Nele, diferencia-se em promastigota procíclica, multiplicando-se por divisão binária e diferenciando-se em formas metacíclicas, que migram para a probóscide do flebótomo, reiniciando o ciclo ao se alimentar de um novo hospedeiro (Figura 1)(SILVA, 2008).…”