title: Molecular characterization of Leishmania infantum in domestic cats in a region of Brazil endemic for human and canine visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a "neglected tropical disease" and serious public health issue in Brazil. While dogs are recognized as particularly important reservoirs, recent reports of domestic cats infected with Leishmania sp. in urban areas suggest their participation in the epidemiological chain of the parasite in endemic areas. The aim of this study was to screen domestic cats for Leishmania sp. infection in an area where human and canine visceral leishmaniasis are endemic, followed by the identification of the species circulating in cats. We collected peripheral blood, lymph-node aspirates and bone marrow from 100 adult animals, both male and female, and analyzed the samples using cytological and molecular (PCR) detection techniques. We detected Leishmania in 6% of animals, which were then analyzed by RFLP-PCR to identify the species. Leishmania infantum (synonym: L. chagasi), a species responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in humans and other animals, was identified from all six samples. Amastigotes were observed in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymph-node aspirates in 4 of the 6 PCR-positive animals. The presence of infected cats in endemic areas should not be neglected, because it demonstrates the potential role of these animals in the biological cycle of the pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79070-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: bel.parizotto@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabel Parizotto
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Metzdorf
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Biologia Molecular, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Centro de Pesquisas Ageu Magalhães (CPqAM), CEP: 50.740- 465 Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: manoel.lima@cpqam.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Manoel Sebastião
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: da Costa Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Culturas Celulares, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79090-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: fatima.matos@ufms.br.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Fatima Cepa Matos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79070-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: antoniosouzafilho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonio Francisco
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: de Souza Filho
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Culturas Celulares, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79090-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: rosi_tsujisaki@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosianne A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Souza Tsujisaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Culturas Celulares, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79090-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: karinafranco.95@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Karina Garcia
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Gainesville FL 32611, USA; Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: julie.teresa.shapiro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julie Teresa
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, UFMS, 79070-900 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: fernando.borges@ufms.br.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Almeida Borges
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
keywords: Feline leishmaniasis; PCR; Protozoa; Reservoir host; Zoonosis