Feline leishmaniasis in Jerusalem: serological investigation.
Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic zoonosis, present in the Mediterranean area and well recognized in Israel and Palestine for human and dog disease. A serological study using an ELISA technique was performed on 104 cats living in the Jerusalem area. Seroprevalence was 6.7% (7/104). Significant correlation between seropositive cat results and altitude > 2500 ft was observed (p = 0.02). This is the first serological survey of feline leishmaniasis (FL) in the Middle East. To prove cat involvement as a secondary host, more investigations are still needed. The study concludes that cat involvement in Leishmania host studies should not be ignored.
Nasereddin
Abedelmajeed
A
Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Abu-Deis, P.O. Box 20760, West Bank, Palestine. abedn@ekmd.huji.ac.il
Salant
Harold
H
Abdeen
Ziad
Z
D000818:Animals; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D014157:Transcription Factors
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C511852:KAN4 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors