title: The first record of American visceral leishmaniasis in domestic cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: This paper is the first to report visceral leishmaniasis in domestic cats (Felis catus domesticus) from an endemic area in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A relatively high seroprevalence of 25% was observed although none of them have presented any symptom. Our results support the observation of previous authors, suggesting that cats may be considered as alternative domestic hosts of visceral leishmaniasis and should be included in serological investigations performed in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Cep: 21045-900, Fiocruz, Pavilhão 108, Sala 34, Laboratório de Toxoplasmose/FIOCRUZ, Brazil. albavmsilva@click21.com.br
authors.forename: Alba Valéria Machado
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Claudia Dias
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: de Souza Cândido
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Pita Pereira
authors.forename: Reginaldo Peçanha
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brazil
authors.forename: João Carlos Araujo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies