Abstract
BackgroundDogs are the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum; nevertheless, recent investigations indicate a likely role for cats in the epidemiology of Leishmania infection. Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) remains poorly characterised, partly due to the lack of suitable diagnostic tools. This study aimed to compare serum amyloid A (SAA) levels and serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) profiles (specifically, alpha 2 and gamma globulins) in cats naturally exposed to or infected by L. infantum from southern Italy versus those of healthy controls and versus cats with neoplastic or inflammatory conditions from non-endemic areas.MethodsSerum or plasma samples from four cohorts of cats were analysed for SAA levels and by SPE: (i) G1: healthy controls from Leishmania-non-endemic regions of Switzerland; (ii) G2: cats pre-diagnosed with neoplastic or inflammatory conditions available from the University of Cambridge sample archive; (iii) G3: L. infantum-seropositive, quantitative (q)PCR-negative cats from southern Italy; (iv) G4: L. infantum-seropositive and qPCR-positive cats from southern Italy. SAA data were assessed for normality and homoscedasticity using the Shapiro–Wilk and Levene’s tests, respectively; the Kruskall–Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s test with Bonferroni correction were subsequently used to compare SAA serum levels between groups. A weighted generalised linear model with a binomial distribution was used to assess statistically significant differences in the numbers of animals displaying elevated gamma globulins and increased alpha 2 globulins between groups.ResultsOverall, 68 samples were analysed (G1: n = 16, G2: n = 20, G3: n = 20, G4: n = 12). Cats suffering from neoplastic and inflammatory conditions (G2 ) showed significantly higher SAA levels than healthy controls (G1) (median values [interquartile range]: G1: 0.00 [0.00–0.00] mg/l versus G2: 0.85 [0.00–49.55] mg/l). G2, G3 and G4 cats showed higher percentages of individuals with increased alpha 2 globulins (percentages ± standard error: G1 = 20.0% ± 10.3, G2 = 80.0% ± 8.9, G3 = 70.0% ± 10.2, G4 = 75.0% ± 12.5) and gamma globulins (G1 = 0.0% ± 0, G2 = 65.0% ± 10.7, G3 = 50.0% ± 11.2, G4 = 58.3% ± 14.2) than healthy control cats (G1). For all three markers, no significant difference between cats within G2, G3 and G4 was recorded.ConclusionsThis study indicates that the proportions of animals with elevated levels of alpha 2 and gamma globulins are significantly higher in cats exposed to and infected with L. infantum. Levels of SAA and alpha 2 and gamma globulins may not be used to differentiate between L. infantum infection or exposure, and neoplastic and/or inflammatory conditions.Graphical
Highlights
Dogs are the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum; recent investigations indicate a likely role for cats in the epidemiology of Leishmania infection
This study indicates that the proportions of animals with elevated levels of alpha 2 and gamma globulins are significantly higher in cats exposed to and infected with L. infantum
serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations differed significantly among tested groups (χ2 = 13.56, df = 3, P = 0.004). This marker was significantly higher in Group 2 (G2) when compared to Group 1 (G1) controls (Z = 3.62, df = 1, P = 0.002), while no significant differences were detected between Group 3 (G3) or Group 4 (G4) versus G1
Summary
Dogs are the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum; recent investigations indicate a likely role for cats in the epidemiology of Leishmania infection. Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic in Italy, and the prevalence of infection has increased with its spread from hyperendemic southern and central areas towards northern regions [4]. The epidemiological role of other animal species as alternative reservoir hosts of L. infantum has long been overlooked. Recent epidemiological investigations in other species have pointed towards the likely implication of domestic and wild felids in parasite circulation [5,6,7,8]. Endemic foci of feline leishmaniosis (FeL) have recently been described in southern Italy, and the overall prevalence of feline infection in these areas is likely underestimated [9, 10]
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