Conjunctival swab PCR to detect Leishmania spp. in cats

Abstract

The relevance of the dog as a source of visceral leishmaniasis infection is known, but the role of cats as reservoir hosts for leishmaniasis is not yet fully clear. This study assessed the efficacy of conjunctival swab PCR (CS-PCR) in the detection of cats infected by Leishmania spp. The results were seven (13.5%) cats positive for Leishmania spp. in the PCR, in 52 cats tested from Pirassunuga-SP and Ilha Solteira-SP. From the city of Pirassununga -SP 28.6% (2/7) were positive and from the city of Ilha Solteira -SP 11.1% (5/45) were positive. The results showed that CS-PCR was capable of detecting cats infected by this protozoan. Conjunctival swab samples proved easier to perform in cats, which might facilitate studies on the frequency and distribution of feline leishmaniasis.Keywords: Conjunctival swab, PCR, cats. ResumoA importância do cão como fonte de infecção da leishmaniose visceral já é conhecida, mas o papel dos gatos como reservatórios das leishmanioses ainda não está totalmente esclarecido. O presente estudo avaliou a eficácia da PCR de suabe conjuntival (PCR-SC) na detecção de gatos infectados por Leishmania spp. Foram encontrados sete (13,5%) gatos positivos para Leishmania spp. na PCR de suabe conjuntival, dentre 52 animais de Pirassununga -SP e Ilha Solteira -SP testados. Sendo positivos 28,6% (02/07) dos gatos do município de Pirassununga e 11,1% (5/45) dos gatos do município de Ilha Solteira. Os resultados demonstraram que o suabe de conjuntiva ocular foi capaz de detectar gatos infectados por esse protozoário. A coleta de amostras da conjuntiva mostrou ser um método simples, menos invasivo e pouco estressante para os gatos e seus proprietários, o que pode facilitar estudos sobre a frequência e distribuição da leishmaniose felina.Palavras-chave: Suabe conjuntival, PCR, gatos.

Detection of Leishmania spp. using parasitological, serological and molecular assays in asymptomatic and sick cats from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniosis in Brazil

“…However, little is known about the clinical manifestations and immune response to the disease in these animals, which is well-established in dogs. Thus, various techniques have been used in the diagnosis of FL, such as serological, parasitological and molecular techniques [5,7,11,12,14,18,32,41].…”

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in conjunctival swabs of cats by quantitative real-time PCR

“…In cats, the use of CS samples has also been shown to facilitate epidemiological studies. For instance, in a study by Oliveira et al (2015), 28.6% (2/7) and 11.1% (5/45) of CS samples of cats from Pirassununga, SP, Brazil and Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil, respectively, were positive to Leishmania spp. by kDNA cPCR.…”

Noninvasive Biological Samples to Detect and Diagnose Infections due to Trypanosomatidae Parasites: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Leishmania DNA can be detected and quantified by qPCR in the lacrimal glands of symptomatic dogs [263]. All these clues have prompted testing the efficiency of the conjunctival swab for CVL diagnosis [264][265][266][267] and tracking asymptomatic dog infections [268] but also for diagnosing feline leishmaniasis [267,269,270]. In addition, the detection of Leishmania DNA in conjunctival swabs has also been applied to track L. infantum wild reservoirs [271,272].…”