Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Jan 2014)

Detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum in cats (Felis catus) from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

  • Rita de Cássia Nascimento Silva,
  • Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos,
  • Danillo de Souza Pimentel,
  • Gênova Maria de Azevedo Oliveira,
  • Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho,
  • Marília de Andrade Santana,
  • Maria Aparecida da Glória Faustino,
  • Leucio Câmara Alves

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0005-2012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 1
pp. 108 – 109

Abstract

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Introduction: Little information is available concerning infection by Leishmania infantum in cats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a serological study in domestic cats. Methods: Serum samples (n=153) obtained from animals living in the Cities of Recife and Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were tested by ELISA/S7® (Biogene). Results: Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in 3.9% (6/153) of the cats. All seroreagent animals were from Petrolina. Conclusions: These results serve as an important alert, and future studies are needed to better understand the possible role of cats in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in this area.

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