Feline leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum in Italy.
A case of leishmaniosis in domestic cats (Felis catus domesticus) is described. The subject showed a nodular lesion on the eyelid. The diagnosis was achieved by serological, parasitological, and light and electron microscopic investigations. By molecular techniques the aetiological agent was identified as belonging to Leishmania infantum, the species implicated in human and canine leishmaniosis in southern Europe. A preliminary study on the prevalence of asymptomatic feline leishmaniosis, performed in the areas where the infected cat was identified, revealed a low seroprevalence of infection: only 1 (0.9%) of the 110 cat sera examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test was positive for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Because clinical signs in feline leishmaniosis are unspecific and similar to those observed in other diseases commonly found in this species, leishmaniosis must be added to the differential diagnosis by feline veterinary practitioners and adequate serologic and histopathologic investigations must be performed in endemic areas.
Poli
Alessandro
A
Department of Animal Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, I-56124, Pisa, Italy. apoli@vet.unipi.it
Abramo
Francesca
F
Barsotti
Paola
P
Leva
Stefano
S
Gramiccia
Marina
M
Ludovisi
Alessandra
A
Mancianti
Francesca
F
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D016054:DNA, Protozoan