Leptospira spp. Prevalence in Cats from Southern Italy with Evaluation of Risk Factors for Exposure and Clinical Findings in Infected Cats

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease, but feline leptospirosis is rarely reported. This study aimed at investigating Leptospira spp. prevalence in cats from southern Italy, evaluating risk factors, clinical findings and laboratory data associated with infection. The serum of 112 cats was investigated by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), detecting anti-Leptospira antibodies against 14 pathogenic serovars. Blood and urine samples were tested by a real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the lipL32 gene of pathogenic Leptospira. Antibodies against serovars Poi, Bratislava, Arborea, Ballum, Pomona and Lora were detected in 15.3% (17/111) of cats (titers range: 20–320). Leptospira spp. DNA was found in 3% (4/109) of blood and 9% (10/111) of urine samples. The spring season was the only risk factor for urinary Leptospira DNA shedding. Laboratory abnormalities significantly associated and/or correlated with Leptospira spp. positivity were anemia, monocytosis, neutrophilia, eosinopenia, increased alanine aminotransferase activity, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. In the investigated areas, cats are frequently infected by Leptospira spp. and can represent an additional reservoir or sentinel for a risk of infection. Moreover, some laboratory changes could be compatible with a pathogenic effect of Leptospira spp. in the feline host.

Leptospiraseroprevalence in dogs, cats and horses: the effect of cross-reactivity between serovars and vaccination status on seroprevalence estimates

“…In our study, the serovars that had the highest number of positive samples were serovars Bratislava and Hardjo, and the highest titer seen in cats was against serovar Hardjo (1:3200). Positivity to serovar Bratislava agrees with other feline studies both inside and outside of the United States [26][27][28][29], while a limited number of studies reported positive samples against serovar Hardjo [25,27].…”

Serological and Molecular Evidence of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Stray Dogs and Cats of Sicily (South Italy), 2017–2021

“…Genotyping revealed that two of the positive cat samples were Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Icterohaemorragiae or Copenhageni. A similar study by Donato et al, 2022 [ 52 ] detected antibodies against serovars Poi, Bratislava, Arborea, Ballum, Pomona, and Lora in 15.3% (17/111) of cats (titers range: 20–320) and Leptospira spp. DNA in 3% (4/109) of blood and 9% (10/111) of urine samples.…”

Feline Susceptibility to Leptospirosis and Presence of Immunosuppressive Co-Morbidities: First European Report of L. interrogans Serogroup Australis Sequence Type 24 in a Cat and Survey of Leptospira Exposure in Outdoor Cats

“…In Leptospira spp. antibody-positive cats, alterations in CBC (anaemia, neutrophilia, monocytosis and eosinopenia), in inflammation markers (i.e., hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia) and increased ALT activity have been reported [ 51 ]. Previous case reports described three confirmed, naturally infected clinical cases of feline leptospirosis, in which the major clinical findings were different stages of renal insufficiency without any liver involvement [ 24 , 52 ].…”

“…Environmental factors, such as outdoor habits, the presence of livestock and farm animals that may shed Leptospira in the neighbourhood, wild animals’ Leptospira reservoirs, and seasonality, may result in different degrees of exposure to pathogenic Leptospira , thus, potentially justifying the broad ranges of antibody prevalence reported in the literature. A recent study conducted in cats in southern Italy reported antibodies against serovars Poi, Arborea and Mini, among others [ 51 ]. This study also described the spring season as the only risk factor for urinary Leptospira shedding, detected in 9% of urine samples.…”