Infection by <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp., feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus in cats from an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been increasingly recognized in cats living in areas endemic for the disease. Co-infection with <italic>Leishmania infantum</italic> and other infectious agents is well established in dogs. However, for cats, data on co-infections with <italic>L. infantum</italic> and other infectious agents are still sparse. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens, <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp., feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) in cats from an area endemic for VL in southeastern Brazil. Results: Of the 90 cats, eight (8.9%) were infected with <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp., five (5.5%) were FIV- positive and one (1.1%) was FeLV-positive. Co-infection with <italic>L. infantum</italic> and at least one other infectious agent was found in 9/50 (18.0%; CI: 8.6–31.4%) cats. In Group 1 (cats infected naturally by <italic>L. infantum</italic>), 4/50 (8.0%) cats were positive for FIV, 4/50 (8%) for <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. and 1/50 (2.0%) was co-infected with FeLV and <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. In Group 2 (cats non-infected with <italic>L. infantum</italic>), 2/40 (5.0%) cats were infected with <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. and 1/40 (2.5%) was co-infected with FIV and <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> spp. All cats were negative for <italic>Ehrlichia</italic> spp., <italic>Babesia</italic> spp. and <italic>Anaplasma platys.</italic> Conclusion: A low prevalence of co-infection in <italic>Leishmania</italic>-infected and non-infected cats was found. Co-infections with <italic>Leishmania</italic> and vector-borne diseases in cats are not common in this area endemic for VL in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]