RT journal article
T1 Leishmania infantum Specific Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in Cats and Dogs: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
A1 Priolo, Vito
A1 Martínez Orellana, Pamela
A1 Grazia Pennisi, Maria
A1 Raya Bermúdez, Ana Isabel
A1 Jurado Tarifa, Estefanía
A1 Masucci, Marisa
A1 Donato, Giulia
A1 Bruno, Federica
A1 Castelli, Germano
A1 Solano Gallego, Laila
A2 BiomedicinaBiotecnología y Salud Pública
K1 ELISA
K1 IFAT
K1 IFN-γ
K1 PCR
K1 canine
K1 feline
K1 feline immunodeficiency virus
K1 leishmaniosis
K1 prevalence
K1 whole blood assay
AB Dogs are the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum and display different immunological patterns correlating with the progression of infection to disease. Data about feline L. infantum adaptive immune response are scant. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and immune response in cats and dogs from the same endemic area of canine leishmaniosis. Stray cats (109) and rescued dogs (59) from Córdoba (Spain) were enrolled. Data about their exposure to L. infantum were analyzed by detection of parasite DNA, measurements of Leishmania-specific interferon-γ (whole blood assay in 57 cats and 29 dogs), and antibodies (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence antibody test). An overall L. infantum prevalence of 30.5% in dogs and 30% in cats were found according to serology and PCR tests. Prevalence was 44.8% in dogs and 35.1% in cats tested also for interferon-γ production. Dogs showed higher anti-L. infantum antibody levels compared to cats. More than one-third of cats had contact with or were infected by L. infantum and they may contribute to the endemicity of leishmaniosis in the investigated region. The immunopathogenesis of feline L. infantum infection has similarities with dogs but cats show a lower level of adaptive immune response compared to dogs.
PB MDPI
SN 2306-7381
YR 2022
FD 2022-09-07
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/38866
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/38866
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 05-nov-2026