Xenodiagnosis in four domestic cats naturally infected by
            <i>Leishmania infantum</i>

Vioti, Geovanna; Silva, Mariana Dantas da; Galvis-Ovallos, Fredy; Alves, Maria Júlia Manso; Silva, Diogo Tiago da; Leonel, João Augusto Franco; Pereira, Nuno Wolfgang Balbini; Benassi, Júlia Cristina; Spada, Júlio César Pereira; Maia, Carla; Galati, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi; Starke-Buzetti, Wilma Aparecida; Oliveira, Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa

doi:10.1111/tbed.14216

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…It was interesting to find out that almost half of the ITS1 HRM PCR-positive cats, 5 of 11, were infected with L. tropica . The detection of L. tropica infection in several cats in the study region indicates that cats are frequently exposed to this infection, can serve as sentinels for the presence of L. tropica and may also serve as reservoirs able to infect sand flies, as has been shown experimentally for L. infantum in cats in Europe and South America [ 30 – 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and cats in central Israel

Baneth

2022

Parasites Vectors

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Background Three species of Leishmania cause disease in humans in Israel and are endemic in the Middle East: Leishmania infantum, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. These species infect dogs and cats, but little is known about their prevalence in pet populations and their clinical manifestations. A study on dog and cat Leishmania infection was conducted in a focus of human L. tropica infection in central Israel with the aim of getting insight on leishmaniosis in pets in an area where human infection is highly prevalent. Methods Blood, demographic and clinical data were collected from dogs and cats brought for veterinary care in a focus of human L. tropica infection during 2018–2020. kDNA PCR and internal transcribed spacer1 high-resolution melt analysis PCR (ITS1 HRM PCR) with DNA sequencing were performed for the detection of Leishmania and species determination. Results Forty-three of 189 dogs (22.8%) and 44 of 152 cats (28.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp. infection by kDNA PCR. The ITS1 HRM PCR detected six dogs (3.3%) infected with L. infantum and one (0.5%) with L. tropica, whereas six cats (3.9%) were found infected by L. infantum and five (3.3%) by L. tropica. Four of the five L. tropica-positive cats suffered from weight loss, four had azotemia, two with mild and two with severe azotemia and progressive renal disease. Three cats had gingivostomatitis; three had skin lesions with abscess and ulcers in two and scales and hair loss in another cat, which was also FIV +. This is the first report of feline L. tropica infection in Israel. Clinical information on cats with this infection from previous studies elsewhere is scarce. Conclusions A high rate of Leishmania spp. infection, mostly estimated as sub-clinical, was found in dogs and cats admitted for veterinary care in an L. tropica focus. Among the animals in which infection could be characterized to the species level, more dogs were infected with L. infantum than with L. tropica while 5 of 11 cats were infected with L. tropica and had signs of systemic and skin disease not described before in feline L. tropica infection. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and cats in central Israel

Baneth

2022

Parasites Vectors

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“…Xenodiagnosis, previously used only for humans [ 88 ], is an exciting avenue to explore; it is a sensitive and specific tool to identify trypanosomes in animal and human hosts. Unfortunately, although used for Leishmania [ 89 ] and T. cruzi detection in Latin America [ 90 ], it has been limited to experimental infections for African trypanosomes [ 91 ].…”

Section: Individual Status Inferred From Current Diagnostic Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis of animal trypanosomoses: proper use of current tools and future prospects

et al. 2022

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Reliable diagnostic tools are needed to choose the appropriate treatment and proper control measures for animal trypanosomoses, some of which are pathogenic. Trypanosoma cruzi, for example, is responsible for Chagas disease in Latin America. Similarly, pathogenic animal trypanosomoses of African origin (ATAO), including a variety of Trypanosoma species and subspecies, are currently found in Africa, Latin America and Asia. ATAO limit global livestock productivity and impact food security and the welfare of domestic animals. This review focusses on implementing previously reviewed diagnostic methods, in a complex epizootiological scenario, by critically assessing diagnostic results at the individual or herd level. In most cases, a single diagnostic method applied at a given time does not unequivocally identify the various parasitological and disease statuses of a host. These include “non-infected”, “asymptomatic carrier”, “sick infected”, “cured/not cured” and/or “multi-infected”. The diversity of hosts affected by these animal trypanosomoses and their vectors (or other routes of transmission) is such that integrative, diachronic approaches are needed that combine: (i) parasite detection, (ii) DNA, RNA or antigen detection and (iii) antibody detection, along with epizootiological information. The specificity of antibody detection tests is restricted to the genus or subgenus due to cross-reactivity with other Trypanosoma spp. and Trypanosomatidae, but sensitivity is high. The DNA-based methods implemented over the last three decades have yielded higher specificity and sensitivity for active infection detection in hosts and vectors. However, no single diagnostic method can detect all active infections and/or trypanosome species or subspecies. The proposed integrative approach will improve the prevention, surveillance and monitoring of animal trypanosomoses with the available diagnostic tools. However, further developments are required to address specific gaps in diagnostic methods and the sustainable control or elimination of these diseases. Graphical Abstract

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“…(Psychodidae) [19,25], but L. infantum has been isolated in fleas, ticks, and other arthropods, so they could also play an important role in the transmission even in cats [40,41]. Despite the fact that vertical and horizontal transmission are not well studied in felines [42], Vioti et al (2021) have demonstrated by in vivo studies that infected cats are capable of transmitting L. infantum to sandflies [43]. Positive tests of L. infantum in cats have been reported in different countries in Europe and with different methods in the last twenty years (Table 1), showing the increasing relevance of cats in the transmission of the disease.…”

Section: Epidemiology Of Feline Leishmaniosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Feline Leishmaniosis: An Emerging Public Health Problem

Ahuir-Baraja

Ruiz

Garijo-Toledo

et al. 2021

Veterinary Sciences

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Leishmaniosis is the third most important vector-borne disease in humans, preceded by malaria and lymphatic filariasis, and it is considered endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, where higher temperatures favor development of its vector, sandflies. This zoonotic disease is caused by infection of protozoa Leishmania spp. and the most serious mucocutaneous and visceral form is produced by Leishmania infantum, which predominates in the Mediterranean region. The usual hosts for this parasite are dogs and humans, but an increment in cases of L. infantum infection has been observed in cats in the last years. This increase could be due to the use of sandflies repellents in dogs, obligating the parasite to looking for other hosts. The role of cats in the epidemiology of this disease is unknown, although increase of prevalence of feline leishmaniosis has been observed in endemic areas in the last years. Diagnostic techniques and treatments in cats are not standardized, which makes it difficult to establish prevalence and epidemiology of feline leishmaniosis. Furthermore, the clinical signs and immune response against Leishmania in cats are different to those in dogs, with an observed increment of drug resistance. It is necessary to increase our knowledge about L. infantum infection in cats, including clinical signs, transmission, treatments, and the role of cats in the increasing of zoonoses. Finally, new alternative treatments are required for controlling the spread of this disease in all species of mammals.

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Xenodiagnosis in four domestic cats naturally infected by Leishmania infantum

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and cats in central Israel

Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and cats in central Israel

Diagnosis of animal trypanosomoses: proper use of current tools and future prospects

Feline Leishmaniosis: An Emerging Public Health Problem

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