title: LeishVet update and recommendations on feline leishmaniosis.
abstract: Limited data is available on feline leishmaniosis (FeL) caused by Leishmania infantum worldwide. The LeishVet group presents in this report a review of the current knowledge on FeL, the epidemiological role of the cat in L. infantum infection, clinical manifestations, and recommendations on diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, prognosis and prevention of infection, in order to standardize the management of this disease in cats. The consensus of opinions and recommendations was formulated by combining a comprehensive review of evidence-based studies and case reports, clinical experience and critical consensus discussions. While subclinical feline infections are common in areas endemic for canine leishmaniosis, clinical illness due to L. infantum in cats is rare. The prevalence rates of feline infection with L. infantum in serological or molecular-based surveys range from 0% to more than 60%. Cats are able to infect sand flies and, therefore, they may act as a secondary reservoir, with dogs being the primary natural reservoir. The most common clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities compatible with FeL include lymph node enlargement and skin lesions such as ulcerative, exfoliative, crusting or nodular dermatitis (mainly on the head or distal limbs), ocular lesions (mainly uveitis), feline chronic gingivostomatitis syndrome, mucocutaneous ulcerative or nodular lesions, hypergammaglobulinaemia and mild normocytic normochromic anaemia. Clinical illness is frequently associated with impaired immunocompetence, as in case of retroviral coinfections or immunosuppressive therapy. Diagnosis is based on serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cytology, histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) or culture. If serological testing is negative or low positive in a cat with clinical signs compatible with FeL, the diagnosis of leishmaniosis should not be excluded and additional diagnostic methods (cytology, histology with IHC, PCR, culture) should be employed. The most common treatment used is allopurinol. Meglumine antimoniate has been administered in very few reported cases. Both drugs are administered alone and most cats recover clinically after therapy. Follow-up of treated cats with routine laboratory tests, serology and PCR is essential for prevention of clinical relapses. Specific preventative measures for this infection in cats are currently not available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Messina, 98168, Italy. mariagrazia.pennisi@unime.it.
authors.forename: Maria-Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal. lcardoso@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel. gad.baneth@mail.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baneth
authors.affiliation: Veterinary School of Nantes ONIRIS, University of Nantes, LUNAM, Nantes, 44307, France. patrick.bourdeau@oniris-nantes.fr.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourdeau
authors.affiliation: Quality Vet-Practice, Volos, Greece. sanimed@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Alek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. gmiro@ucm.es.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Food Production, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Delpino 1, Naples, 80137, Italy. gaeoliva@unina.it.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. laia.solano@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solano-Gallego
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D060085:Coinfection; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*