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Feline leishmaniosis: a case with a high parasitic burden
Author(s) -
Migliazzo Antonella,
Vitale Fabrizio,
Calderone Simona,
Puleio Roberto,
Binanti Diana,
Abramo Francesca
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12180
Subject(s) - sicilian , library science , center (category theory) , geography , humanities , art , philosophy , crystallography , linguistics , chemistry , computer science
Leishmaniosis is a widespread zoonotic disease with the\udpotential for significant impact on public health. Although\uddogs are the main reservoir host, the role of other domestic\udspecies in transmission of the disease should be considered,\udand felids may represent an alternative source of\udinfection.1 We describe a case of Leishmania infantum\udinfection in a cat with oral lesions associated with a high\udparasitic load detected by a quantitative PCR technique.\udA 5-year-old male short-haired cat was presented for\udevaluation of respiratory signs, conjunctivitis and oral\udlesions. Clinical examination revealed a poor-quality hair\udcoat, bilateral conjunctivitis, nasal exudate and a diffuse\udhyperplastic and ulcerative stomatitis. Complete blood\udcount and serum protein electrophoresis values were\udwithin normal range, and screening tests for feline leukaemia\udvirus and feline immunodeficiency virus were\udnegative. Histopathological evaluation of biopsy tissue\udfrom the oral lesion confirmed severe, diffuse granulomatous\udstomatitis, with numerous macrophages containing\udintracytoplasmic protozoal organisms (Figure 1). Serology\udwas negative for Toxoplasma and Neospora and positive\udfor Leishmania by an indirect fluorescent antibody titre of\ud1:320.2 A diagnosis of feline leishmaniosis was\udconfirmed