Prevalence of Leishmania infection in 205 cats from a referral hospital population in Brazil (2021−2022)

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) Vol. 53; p. 101068
• Main Authors: Paiva, Brenda Lopes, Sousa-Paula, Lucas Christian de, Sales, Kamila Gaudêncio da Silva, Costa, Karla Maria Vieira, Venuto, Aline Martins, Oriente, Valcledes Nascimento do, Cavalcante, Francisco Roger Aguiar, Brito, Roberta Lomonte Lemos de, Santos, Jessica Maria Leite dos, Dantas-Torres, Filipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-08-2024
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Feline leishmaniosis; Female; Hospitals, Animal; Leishmania - isolation & purification; Leishmania infantum - isolation & purification; Leishmaniasis - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis - parasitology; Leishmaniasis - veterinary; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Male; Molecular diagnosis; Prevalence; Real-time PCR; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Risk factors; Brazil; Molecular diagnosis; Real-time PCR; Risk factors; Feline leishmaniosis
• ISSN: 2405-9390; 2405-9390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101068

Leishmaniases are a group of neglected diseases of significant public health concern, with Brazil being the primary focus of this disease in the Americas. The municipality of Sobral, in the state of Ceará, is a historical focus of visceral leishmaniasis in both humans and dogs, but data on Leishmania spp. infections in cats are limited. Between April 2021 and February 2022, 205 cats from a referral hospital population were sampled and tested for Leishmania spp. by real-time PCR. Eight cats (3.9%; 95% CI: 1.7–7.5%) tested positive. Among these, three (37.5%) displayed clinical signs compatible with feline leishmaniosis. Non-domiciled cats showed significantly higher positivity compared to domiciled ones (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0124). Considering their potential role as reservoirs of L. infantum, it is crucial to conduct further studies to understand the Leishmania spp. circulating among cats in Sobral and to implement measures for reducing their exposure to phlebotomine sand fly vectors in this important focus of leishmaniases.
•We report the occurrence of Leishmania infection in cats from Sobral, Ceará.•Leishmania DNA was detected in eight of 205 domestic cats examined.•Non-domiciled cats were more exposed than domiciled cats.