Avaliação sorológica para detecção de anticorpos anti-Leishmania sp. em gatos de uma área endêmica para leishmaniose visceral

Abstract

Leishmaniasis are diseases of great impact and world importance on public health that affects the man, also wild and domestic animals. It is transmitted by the phlebotomine of the genus Lutzomyia and Phlebotomus, and it has the dog as its main domestic host. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cases of leishmaniasis in cats from endemic areas, suggesting that this species can no longer be considered an accidental host of Leishmania sp. The following study aimed to investigate the occurrence of exposure by Leishmania sp. in cats from an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis and its association with risk factors, in order to know the role of cats as a reservoir of the parasite in that area. Eighty cats from the city of São Luís – MA were sampled. Besides, those cats were evaluated by means of clinical examination, the search for anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies, which used the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFR) and application of questionnaires to owners. Of the total cats sampled, 21 (26.25%) were seropositive for Leishmania sp., with titles ranging from 40 to 2560. The variables that are statistically significant with the seropositivity of cats in this study were street access, castration, environmental management and cohabitation with dogs positive for leishmaniasis. Thus, taking into account the occurrence of Leishmania sp. detected in cats through this study, it is necessary to alert the veterinary community that feline leishmaniasis is a differential diagnosis which has to be taken into account in the clinical evaluation of a cat, and it is also necessary the adoption of prophylactic measures to preserve animal and public health.