Leishmania infantum-specific IFN-γ production in stimulated blood from cats living in areas where canine leishmaniosis is endemic

Priolo, Vito; Martínez-Orellana, Pamela; Pennisi, Maria Grazia; Masucci, Marisa; Prandi, David; Ippolito, Dorotea; Bruno, Federica; Castelli, Germano; Solano‐Gallego, Laia

doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3386-y

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This variability is thought to be the result of a cell-mediated immune response from the host, which may be influenced by the genetic background. A similar pattern of humoral and cell-mediated adaptive immune response is detected in cats from endemic areas of L. infantum [6]. The most common clinical signs of feline leishmaniosis (FeL) include peripheral lymphadenomegaly, cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A cross-sectional study of Leishmania infantum infection in stray cats in the city of Zaragoza (Spain) using serology and PCR

et al. 2021

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Background Feline leishmaniosis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp. Leishmania infection in dogs is prevalent in the Mediterranean basin, but in other animals, such as cats, it could also play a role in the epidemiology of the disease. Information on the geographical distribution and epidemiological features of L. infantum infection in cats is scarce, particularly in urban stray cats living in regions where canine leishmaniosis is endemic. As diagnosis can be challenging, combining different serological and molecular methods is a useful approach. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of infection of L. infantum in apparently healthy stray cats in an endemic region of Spain (Zaragoza city) using serological and molecular methods, and to compare the results of the different techniques. Methods The prevalence of Leishmania infection was studied in stray cats captured in urban and peri-urban areas of Zaragoza. Blood was collected from each animal for serology and molecular analysis. Three serological methods, namely the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB), were used to detect L. infantum antibodies and a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to detect L. infantum DNA. The results were analyzed by Fisher’s exact test and Cohen’s kappa statistic (κ) to assess the level of agreement between the diagnostic techniques. Results Serological analysis of blood samples from 180 stray cats revealed 2.2% (4/179) Leishmania infection positivity by IFAT, 2.8% (5/179) by ELISA and 14.5% (26/179) by WB. Leishmania DNA was detected by qPCR in 5.6% (10/179) of the cats. Sixteen cats (8.9%) tested positive by only one serological technique and four tested positive by all three serological methods used. The overall rate of infected cats (calculated as the number of cats seropositive and/or qPCR positive) was 15.6%, and only two cats tested positive by all the diagnostic methods. A significant association was found between male cats and a positive qPCR result. Comparison of the techniques revealed a fair agreement in seropositivity between blood qPCR and IFAT (κ = 0.26), blood qPCR and ELISA (κ = 0.24), WB and ELISA (κ = 0.37) and WB and IFAT (κ = 0.40). The highest agreement between seropositive results was between IFAT and ELISA (κ = 0.89), and the lowest was between blood qPCR and WB (κ = 0.19). The prevalence of the feline leukemia virus antigen was 4.49% (8/178 cats) and that of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody was 6.74% (12/178), while co-infection with both retroviruses was observed in one female cat (1/178). Leishmania ELISA and IFAT seropositivity were statistically associated with FIV status by the chi-square test. Conclusions The results obtained in this study, using serological tests and qPCR, indicate the existence of L. infantum asymptomatic infection in apparently healthy stray cats in the city of Zaragoza, an endemic area in Spain.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A cross-sectional study of Leishmania infantum infection in stray cats in the city of Zaragoza (Spain) using serology and PCR

et al. 2021

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“…Recently, it has been described that cats from endemic areas are able to activate a cell-mediated adaptive immune response. 75 However, other authors have suggested that the humoral immune response is protective in FeL, 1,76 highlighting the potential differences in the immune response between these two species. In some dogs, the simultaneous presence of more than one presentation could be due to other factors, such as skin vulnerability to mechanical trauma and/or to vascular compromise, 48,77 and that might be the case in some cats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feline leishmaniosis: diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 16 cats

Gallego¹,

Bernabé²,

Dalmau³

et al. 2020

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Objectives Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease and in European countries is caused by Leishmania infantum. Cats are considered secondary reservoirs of the infection in endemic areas. The objective of this retrospective study is to describe the clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of feline leishmaniosis (FeL) in 16 cats in Spain. Methods Medical records of cats diagnosed with leishmaniosis were retrospectively reviewed for cases that met the following inclusion criteria: identification of Leishmania organisms and/or DNA on cytological and/or histological specimens and/or a high anti- Leishmania antibody titre, compatible clinical findings and pathological abnormalities. Results Sixteen cats met the inclusion criteria, all of which were living in areas endemic for canine leishmaniosis. Systemic signs were present in 11 cases (68.8%). The most common clinical signs on presentation included cutaneous lesions in 12 cats (75%), ocular disease in six cats (37.5%) and anorexia in six cats (37.5%). A polyclonal gammopathy was noted in 12 cats (85.7%). Non-regenerative anaemia and renal abnormalities were present in six (37.5%) and five patients (31.3%), respectively. In nine cats (56.3%), immunosuppressive conditions/comorbidities were identified. The diagnosis was made in eight of the cats (50%) by cytology, but a combination of diagnostic tests was needed for definitive diagnosis in the remaining patients. Twelve cats (75%) were treated specifically for leishmaniosis. Five of the 12 cats (41.7%) did not improve with treatment. The median survival time in the group of patients treated specifically for leishmaniosis was 17 months. Median survival of patients treated with concomitant diseases was 13 months vs 41 months in those without, although this was not statistically significant ( P = 0.557). Conclusions and relevance Presentation of FeL appears to be similar to canine leishmaniosis but with some specific features: ulcerative and nodular skin lesions are the predominant cutaneous signs; cats with immunosuppressive conditions or co-existing diseases were more commonly present than typically seen in dogs (mainly feline immunodeficiency virus). A combination of diagnostic tests may be needed for definitive diagnosis.

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“…Older studies from Southern Italy found 7% positivity in Campania [71]. Around the same time and in the following years, no FeLV-positive samples were found in Sicily in studies including stray or outdoor cats [72,73,74,75,76,77], or about 2% positivity was reported in the Sicily [78,79] and Calabria regions [72]. Regional differences in the prevalence of FeLV infection have likely existed for some time within Italy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pan-European Study on the Prevalence of the Feline Leukaemia Virus Infection – Reported by the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD Europe)

Studer

Lutz

Saegerman

et al. 2019

Viruses

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Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus associated with fatal disease in progressively infected cats. While testing/removal and vaccination led to a decreased prevalence of FeLV, recently, this decrease has reportedly stagnated in some countries. This study aimed to prospectively determine the prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats taken to veterinary facilities in 32 European countries. FeLV viral RNA was semiquantitatively detected in saliva, using RT-qPCR as a measure of viraemia. Risk and protective factors were assessed using an online questionnaire to report geographic, demographic, husbandry, FeLV vaccination, and clinical data. The overall prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats visiting a veterinary facility, of which 10.4% were shelter and rescue cats, was 2.3% (141/6005; 95% CI: 2.0%–2.8%) with the highest prevalences in Portugal, Hungary, and Italy/Malta (5.7%–8.8%). Using multivariate analysis, seven risk factors (Southern Europe, male intact, 1–6 years of age, indoor and outdoor or outdoor-only living, living in a group of ≥5 cats, illness), and three protective factors (Northern Europe, Western Europe, pedigree cats) were identified. Using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis, the origin of cats in Europe, pedigree, and access to outdoors were important predictors of FeLV status. FeLV-infected sick cats shed more viral RNA than FeLV-infected healthy cats, and they suffered more frequently from anaemia, anorexia, and gingivitis/stomatitis than uninfected sick cats. Most cats had never been FeLV-vaccinated; vaccination rates were indirectly associated with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In conclusion, we identified countries where FeLV was undetectable, demonstrating that the infection can be eradicated and highlighting those regions where awareness and prevention should be increased.

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Leishmania infantum-specific IFN-γ production in stimulated blood from cats living in areas where canine leishmaniosis is endemic

Cited by 27 publications

References 29 publications

A cross-sectional study of Leishmania infantum infection in stray cats in the city of Zaragoza (Spain) using serology and PCR

A cross-sectional study of Leishmania infantum infection in stray cats in the city of Zaragoza (Spain) using serology and PCR

Feline leishmaniosis: diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 16 cats

Pan-European Study on the Prevalence of the Feline Leukaemia Virus Infection – Reported by the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD Europe)

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