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Transmission of Leishmania infantum from cats to dogs

Authors :
Joilson Ferreira Batista
Francisco das Chagas Ribeiro Magalhães Neto
Kayo Sandro Pimentel do Prado Lopes
Marcello Otake Sato
Carlos Henrique Nery Costa
Ivete Lopes de Mendonça
Source :
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, Vol 29, Iss 4 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria, 2020.

Abstract

Abstract Leishmania infantum infection in cats has been reported in several countries, including Brazil. However, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from cats to another host has not been proven yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the possibility of L. infantum transmission from cats to dogs. In order to verify the possibility of VL transmission from the cat to the dog, xenodiagnosis was carried out in a VL-positive cat, using 55 female Lutzomyia longipalpis. Five days later, 40 insects were dissected to verify Leishmania infection. The remaining 15 females were fed in a healthy dog. The potential infection of the dog was verified through clinical, serological, parasitological examinations, and PCR, at three, six, and twelve months post-infection. All 55 L. longipalpis females became visibly engorged. Leishmania promastigotes were detected in 27.5% of the dissected insects. Leishmania infection in the dog was confirmed upon first evaluation. DNA sequencing of the parasite isolated from the cat confirmed L. infantum infection and showed 99% similarity with the L. infantum DNA sequences from the dogs. Through this study, it was possible to confirm the L. infantum experimental transmission from a domestic cat to a domestic dog through its biological vector L. longipalpis.

Details

Language :
English, Spanish; Castilian, Portuguese
ISSN :
19842961
Volume :
29
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.350ed99aef5d4a29a5ddd72381fb6af4
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612020099