Leishmania infantum Seroprevalence in Cats From Touristic Areas of Italy and Greece

Simone Morelli,Angela Di Cesare,Alessandra Barlaam,Mariasole Colombo,Anastasia Diakou,Barbara Paoletti,Ilaria Russi,Roberta Spoletini,Donato Traversa,Dimitris Dimzas

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.616566

Simone Morelli, Angela Di Cesare + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.616566

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Abstract

Leishmaniosis by Leishmania infantum is a major zoonotic Vector-Borne Disease (VBD) in terms of geographic distribution, pathogenicity and zoonotic potential. While dogs are the main reservoir of L. infantum, the infection in cats is poorly understood although increasingly reported from enzootic and non-enzootic areas. The Mediterranean basin is a key area for leishmaniosis and includes touristic spots that require continuous surveillance for VBDs in consideration of the growing tendency of tourists to travel with their pets. This study evaluated L. infantum seroprevalence in cats living in selected touristic localities of Italy and Greece. A total of 269 cat serum samples from three Sites i.e., 76, 40, and 153 from Adriatic Coast of Abruzzo, Italy (Site A), Giglio Island, Tuscany, Italy (Site B), and Mykonos Island, Greece (Site C), respectively, were included in the survey. Sera samples were subjected to an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay for the detection of anti-L. infantum specific IgG. Associations between possible risk factors and seropositivity to L. infantum were statistically evaluated. Antibodies against L. infantum were detected in eight out of 269 (3.0%) cats tested i.e., 4/76 (5.3%), 1/40 (2.5%), and 3/153 (2.0%), from sites A, B, and C, respectively. A statistical association between anti-L. infantum antibodies and cohabitation with dogs was shown. This study indicates that feline populations living in the examined Italian and Greek touristic areas are exposed to L. infantum and that they may contribute to the circulation of L. infantum, enhancing the risk of infection for dogs and humans.

Highlights

Leishmaniosis caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum is a Vector-Borne Disease (VBD) of major veterinary and public health concern in the Mediterranean Basin [1, 2], where phlebotomine sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus transmit L. infantum to a vertebrate host during blood meal [3]
The data generated in the present study add new information on the exposure to L. infantum of cat populations in the examined areas of Italy and Greece
This may be attributed to the fact that 3/4 (75.0%) of the positive cats from Site A cohabited with dogs, as this was identified as a statistically significant risk factor by the statistical analysis in the present study

Summary

Introduction

Leishmaniosis caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum is a Vector-Borne Disease (VBD) of major veterinary and public health concern in the Mediterranean Basin [1, 2], where phlebotomine sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus transmit L. infantum to a vertebrate host during blood meal [3]. Geographic spread, epizootiology, and epidemiology of L. infantum are strictly associated with the distribution of these vectors [4, 5]. Current climate changes enhance the reproduction and spread of sandflies and, promote the rate of L. infantum transmission to a wide range of vertebrates, including humans [6, 7]. Autochthonous cases of infection by L. infantum in people are reported throughout Europe, including Italy and Greece [14]. Southern Europe in particular is regarded as a high-burden area for human visceral leishmaniosis due to L. infantum [1]

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