Serological and molecular investigation of Leishmania spp. infection in cats from an area endemic for canine and human leishmaniasis in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Leishmania spp. antibodies, and its association with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), in domestic cats from an area endemic for canine and human leishmaniasis in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. Ninety-one cats were subjected to a complete clinical exam, and blood samples were collected. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to investigate the risk factors. IgG anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), with a cut-off value of 1:40. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect genetic material of Leishmania spp. in the blood samples. The presence of antibodies against FIV and antigens of FeLV was evaluated using an immunochromatographic test. Seropositivity for Leishmania spp., FIV, and FeLV was observed in 14/91 (15.38%), 26/91 (28.57%), and 3/91 (3.29%) cats, respectively. All samples gave negative results on PCR analysis. Based on these data, no significant statistical association was observed between seropositivity for Leishmania spp., and sex, age, presence of clinical signs, evaluated risk factors, and positivity for retroviruses. These findings demonstrated for the first time that cats from Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, are being exposed to this zoonosis and might be part of the epidemiological chain of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.

Natural Infection by Leishmania infantum in domestic cats (Felis catus) in a municipality of moderate transmission in the Brazilian semi-arid region

“…Alves-Martin et al (2017), using the same primers as in the present study, detected 9.1% of whole blood positive samples, including animals with and without symptoms. On the other hand, Bezerra et al (2019) and Coura et al (2018), in studies carried out in Brazilian endemic regions for leishmaniasis, did not detect any positive samples by PCR, even in cats that are reactive in serology.…”

Vitamin d and leishmaniasis: Neither seasonal nor risk factor in canine host but potential adjuvant treatment through cbd103 expression

“…major and L . amazonensis [ 50 – 52 ]. However, these results focused on the cutaneous form and/or in a mouse model, which is predisposed to Th1 immune response.…”

Leishmaniose Visceral: Uma Doença Emergente No Atendimento Clínico Do Paciente Felino

“…FeLV (SHERRY et al, 2011). Outros, no entanto, não encontram os mesmos resultados (MARCONDES et al, 2018;BEZERRA et al, 2019). Em alguns casos onde não houve correlação entre leishmaniose felina e retroviroses, os animais foram diagnosticados com outras comorbidades como neoplasias, diabetes mellitus, doenças autoimunes ou estavam sob tratamento com drogas imunossupressoras.…”

“…(SILVEIRA NETO et al, 2015). Outra possível explicação é a capacidade do parasita de se compartimentalizar em órgãos linfoides como medula óssea, linfonodos, baço; ou também pela baixa carga parasitária incapaz de ser detectada pelo teste (BEZERRA et al, 2019).…”

“…Conforme a dispersão da doença pelo país, o Brasil intensificou suas pesquisas de LF(SILVEIRA NETO et al 2015). Atualmente a frequência de infecção varia entre 0% e 54%(BEZERRA et al, 2019), semelhante ao que é encontrado no Velho Mundo(PENNISI et al, 2015a). A detecção de anticorpos anti-Leishmania e de Leishmania spp.…”