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

Abstract

The main clinical, anatomopathological, and molecular aspects of the infection by Leishmania infantum are described in two cats with multicentric cutaneous, nodular, and ulcerated lesions. The animals were submitted to a clinical examination, followed by serological, molecular and parasitological exams, with culture and isolation of the parasite, and subsequent isoenzymatic characterization. The animals were euthanized and necropsied. Case 1 was an adult, female, mixed-bred stray cat. Case 2 was an adult, male, mixed-bred and domiciled cat. Both were positive for the presence of anti-L. infantum antibodies. In the cytology of the cutaneous nodules and lymph nodes, amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. could be visualized, free and in the interior of the macrophages. In the histopathology, the lesions were characterized by nodular granulomatous and/or ulcerative dermatitis, associated to amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. By means of the polymerase chain reaction, the sequence of the L. infantum kDNA minicircle was amplified. It is concluded that the infection by L. infantum occurs in cats in the State of Paraíba, Northeast region of Brazil and the need to understand the immunological profile of the visceral leishmaniasis in the feline population is highlighted with aimed at the control measures in public health.

Epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of feline leishmaniasis with emphasis on Brazil: a narrative review

“…L. infantum, on the other hand, has been reported in 12 of the 27 states of Brazil, with a lesser number in regions not endemic for VL (Savani et al 2004;Braga et al 2014b;Benassi et al 2017;Pedrassani et al 2019), and mostly in endemic regions (Fig. 1) (Silva et al 2008;Coelho et al 2010;Coelho et al 2011a;Vides et al 2011;Sobrinho et al 2012;Morais et al 2013;Silva et al 2014;Sousa et al 2014;Metzdorf et al 2017;Coura et al 2018;Marcondes et al 2018;Rocha et al 2019;Costa-Val et al 2020;Berenguer et al 2020;Silva et al 2020).…”

Leishmania infection in cats and feline leishmaniosis: An updated review with a proposal of a diagnosis algorithm and prevention guidelines

“…(2019) ; Fernandez-Gallego et al. (2020) ; Silva et al. (2020) Erosive/ulcerative skin disease 37 Ozon et al.…”

“…(2010) ; Verneuil (2013) ; Fernandez-Gallego et al. (2020) ; Silva et al. (2020) Thrombocytopaenia 17 Pennisi et al.…”

“…Nodular dermatitis seems to be the main cutaneous lesion associated with FeL and is typically found on the eyelids ( Hervás et al., 2001 ; Richter et al., 2014 ; Pimenta et al., 2015 ; Leal et al., 2018 ; Pereira et al., 2019c ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ; Silva et al., 2020 ). Erosive/ulcerative dermatitis is another clinical finding suggestive of FeL and has been identified on the head ( Hervás et al., 2001 ; Grevot et al., 2005 ; Coelho et al., 2010 ; Pocholle et al., 2012 ; Maia et al., 2015b ; Basso et al., 2016 ; Brianti et al., 2019 ; Headley et al., 2019 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ), extremities ( Rüfenacht et al., 2005 ; Coelho et al., 2010 ; Basso et al., 2016 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ; Silva et al., 2020 ), trunk ( Pocholle et al., 2012 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ), and over bony prominences ( Hervás et al., 1999 ). Although less frequent, some cats with clinical leishmaniosis showed onychogryphosis ( da Silva et al., 2010 ; Headley et al., 2019 ), a rather specific sign of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) ( Maia & Campino, 2018 ).…”

“…Although less frequent, some cats with clinical leishmaniosis showed onychogryphosis ( da Silva et al., 2010 ; Headley et al., 2019 ), a rather specific sign of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) ( Maia & Campino, 2018 ). Generalised or focal lymphadenopathy appears as a common finding in FeL ( Hervás et al., 1999 ; 2001 ; Poli et al., 2002 ; Savani et al., 2004 ; Pennisi et al., 2004 ; Maroli et al., 2007 ; da Silva et al., 2010 ; Brianti et al., 2019 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ; Silva et al., 2020 ) as well as non-specific signs including lethargy/depression ( Poli et al., 2002 ; Pennisi et al., 2004 ; Leiva et al., 2005 ; Rüfenacht et al., 2005 ; Marcos et al., 2009 ; Pocholle et al., 2012 ; Richter et al., 2014 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ), anorexia/inappetence ( Pennisi et al., 2004 ; Rüfenacht et al., 2005 ; Marcos et al., 2009 ; da Silva et al., 2010 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ), and weight loss ( Ozon et al., 1998 ; Hervás et al., 1999 ; Pennisi et al., 2004 ; Savani et al., 2004 ; da Silva et al., 2010 ; Fernandez-Gallego et al., 2020 ; Silva et al., 2020 ).…”