The susceptibility of domestic cats ( Felis catus) to experimental infection with Leishmania braziliensis

Over the last few years, several cases of feline leishmaniasis (FL) with cutaneous and visceral forms have been reported around the world. Nonetheless, the real susceptibility of cats to infection with Leishmania spp. and the outcome of leishmaniasis in these animals are poorly understood. Experimen...

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Published in:	Veterinary parasitology Vol. 127; no. 3; pp. 199 - 208
Main Authors:	Simões-Mattos, L., Mattos, M.R.F., Teixeira, M.J., Oliveira-Lima, J.W., Bevilaqua, C.M.L., Prata-Júnior, R.C., Holanda, C.M., Rondon, F.C.M., Bastos, K.M.S., Coêlho, Z.C.B., Coêlho, I.C.B., Barral, A., Pompeu, M.M.L.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier B.V 28-02-2005
Subjects:	animal disease models Animals Antibodies, Protozoan - blood antibody formation Cat Cat Diseases - parasitology Cat Diseases - pathology Cats Clinical manifestation cutaneous leishmaniasis disease course Disease Reservoirs Disease Susceptibility - veterinary Experimental infection feline leishmaniasis Felis catus Female immunoglobulin G infection intradermal infection Leishmania braziliensis Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - pathology Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - veterinary lesions (animal) Male Serology seroprevalence Skin - pathology Tegumentary leishmaniasis Leishmania braziliensis Clinical manifestation Experimental infection Serology Tegumentary leishmaniasis Cat
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Summary:	Over the last few years, several cases of feline leishmaniasis (FL) with cutaneous and visceral forms have been reported around the world. Nonetheless, the real susceptibility of cats to infection with Leishmania spp. and the outcome of leishmaniasis in these animals are poorly understood. Experimental studies on feline models will contribute to the knowledge of natural FL. Thus, in order to determine the susceptibility of domestic cats ( Felis catus) to experimental infection with Leishmania braziliensis, 13 stray cats were infected with 10 7 promastigotes by the intradermal route in the ear and nose simultaneously and followed up for 72 weeks. Soon after infection, the earliest indication of a lesion was a papule on the ear at 2 weeks post-infection (w.p.i.). The emergence of satellite papules around the primary lesion was observed about 4 w.p.i. Two weeks later these papules coalesced and formed a huge and irregular nodule. Thereafter, there was lesion dissemination to the external and marginal surface of the ipsilateral ear, and later to the contralateral ear. At 10 w.p.i., some nodules became ulcerated. Nose lesions presented a similar evolution. At both sites, the largest lesion sizes occurred at 10 w.p.i. and started to decrease 15 days later. Ear and nose nodules healed at 32 and 40 w.p.i., respectively. Specific L. braziliensis IgG antibody titers (optical density ≥ 0.01 as positive result) were detected as early as 2 w.p.i. (0.09 ± 0.02) in only three animals (23%), and all cats had positive titers at 20 w.p.i. (0.34 ± 0.06). Only three animals (38%) continued to show positive serology at 72 w.p.i. (0.08 ± 0.02). Up to that time, none of the cats had lesion recurrence. In a feline model of cutaneous leishmaniasis, it seems that there is no correlation between active lesions and positive serology. The implications of these data are discussed.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	0304-4017 1873-2550
DOI:	10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.10.008