Transmission of Leishmania infantum from cats to dogs

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2020, Vol.29 (4), p.e017820-e017820
• Main Authors: Batista, Joilson Ferreira, Magalhães Neto, Francisco das Chagas Ribeiro, Lopes, Kayo Sandro Pimentel do Prado, Sato, Marcello Otake, Costa, Carlos Henrique Nery, Mendonça, Ivete Lopes de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cat Diseases - transmission; Cats; DNA, Protozoan - chemistry; dog; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dog Diseases - transmission; Dogs; feline; Female; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Leishmania infantum - genetics; leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - transmission; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; PARASITOLOGY; Psychodidae - parasitology; transmission; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Xenodiagnoses
• ISSN: 0103-846X; 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612020099

Leishmania infantum infection in cats has been reported in several countries, including Brazil. However, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from cats to another host has not been proven yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the possibility of L. infantum transmission from cats to dogs. In order to verify the possibility of VL transmission from the cat to the dog, xenodiagnosis was carried out in a VL-positive cat, using 55 female Lutzomyia longipalpis. Five days later, 40 insects were dissected to verify Leishmania infection. The remaining 15 females were fed in a healthy dog. The potential infection of the dog was verified through clinical, serological, parasitological examinations, and PCR, at three, six, and twelve months post-infection. All 55 L. longipalpis females became visibly engorged. Leishmania promastigotes were detected in 27.5% of the dissected insects. Leishmania infection in the dog was confirmed upon first evaluation. DNA sequencing of the parasite isolated from the cat confirmed L. infantum infection and showed 99% similarity with the L. infantum DNA sequences from the dogs. Through this study, it was possible to confirm the L. infantum experimental transmission from a domestic cat to a domestic dog through its biological vector L. longipalpis.