Low seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum infection in cats from northern Portugal based on DAT and ELISA

作者：Cardoso Luis; Lopes Ana Patricia; Sherry Kate; Schallig Henk; Solano Gallego Laia^*

来源：Veterinary Parasitology, 2010, 174(1-2): 37-42.

DOI：10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.08.022

• Cat
• Direct agglutination test
• ELISA
• Leishmania infantum
• Portugal
• Seroprevalence

Cats have been considered playing a role in the epidemiology of leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum, an endemic zoonosis in countries of the Mediterranean basin. The present study assessed the prevalence of antibodies to L infantum in 316 domestic cats from northern Portugal, by means of the direct agglutination test (DAT) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seroreactivity to DAT was found in six cats, and nine cats were positive in the ELISA, including the six DAT-positive animals. The overall seroprevalence of Leishmania infection was 2.8%, based on ELISA and DAT. A substantial agreement (99%; K value = 0.80) was found between DAT and ELISA results. The difference between seroprevalence values in females (0.7%) and males (4.7%) was statistically significant (p = 0.045). The age of seropositive cats ranged from 31 to 84 months. Cats with 5-6 years (60-71 months) and 6-7 years (72-83 months) presented the highest level of seropositivity (15.4% and 33.3%, respectively). A significant difference was found comparing the seroprevalences in cats aged less than 24 months (0.0%) and in those with 24 months or more (7.3%) (p=0.022). Seroprevalences in cats living in a rural environment (10.5%) or in urban areas (0.0%) were also found to be significantly different (p<0.001). No significant differences were detected between serological status to Leishmania in pure non-European and European or mixed breeds (p=0.442), cats that lived totally indoors and those that had access to outdoors (p=0.412), cats seropositive and seronegative to Toxoplasma gondii (p=0.276), or apparently healthy animals and those with clinical illness (p=0.271). This study is the largest epidemiological investigation performed on feline Leishmania infection in Portugal. The seroprevalence of Leishmania infection was low in cats living in northern Portugal, a region where canine leishmaniosis is endemic. Nevertheless, Leishmania infection must not be underestimated and leishmaniosis may be included in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous or systemic clinical signs in cats.

• 出版日期2010-11-24