The first record of American visceral leishmaniasis in domestic cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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.
da Silva
Alba Valéria Machado
AV
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
de Souza Cândido
Claudia Dias
CD
de Pita Pereira
Daniela
D
Brazil
Reginaldo Peçanha
RP
Carreira
João Carlos Araujo
JC
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