Detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum in cats (Felis catus) from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Rita de Cássia Nascimento Silva, Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos, Danillo de Souza Pimentel, Gênova Maria de Azevedo Oliveira, Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho, Marília de Andrade Santana, Maria Aparecida da Glória Faustino, Leucio Câmara Alves
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: Feline; Antibody; Leishmania; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0005-2012; https://doaj.org/article/098402d9e72d42ddae837c8a60def10a

Introduction: Little information is available concerning infection by Leishmania infantum in cats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a serological study in domestic cats. Methods: Serum samples (n=153) obtained from animals living in the Cities of Recife and Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were tested by ELISA/S7® (Biogene). Results: Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in 3.9% (6/153) of the cats. All seroreagent animals were from Petrolina. Conclusions: These results serve as an important alert, and future studies are needed to better understand the possible role of cats in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in this area.