First report of infection of Lutzomyia longipalpis by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum from a naturally infected cat of Brazil.
In recent years, cases of feline visceral leishmaniasis (FVL) have been described in different countries. In urban areas, domestic cats are suggested as possible alternative reservoirs of Leishmania (L.) infantum, the causal agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This paper reports the first case of infection of Lutzomyia longipalpis by L. infantum of a naturally infected cat from Brazil through xenodiagnosis. The presence of a cat with FVL and its infectivity to the natural vector in Belo Horizonte city, an endemic area of VL in Brazil, suggests the need for further studies to determine the rate of occurrence of FVL among domestic cats and the infectivity ratio of L. longipalpis in endemic areas, and what is the role of these animals in the epidemiology of the disease.
da Silva
Sydnei Magno
SM
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Pampulha, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. sydmagno@yahoo.com
Rabelo
Priscila Fonte Boa
PF
Gontijo
Nelder de Figueiredo
Nde F
Ribeiro
Raul Rio
RR
Melo
Maria Norma
MN
Ribeiro
Vitor Marcio
VM
Michalick
Marilene Suzan Marques
MS
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*