ANTIBODIES TO LEISHMANIA CHAGASI IN DOMESTIC FELINES
Autor(es): Gabriela Capriogli Oliveira, Laís Moraes Paiz, Benedito Donizete Menozzi, Michele de Souza Lima, Carla Cristina Guimarães de Moraes, Helio Langoni
ANTIBODIES TO LEISHMANIA CHAGASI IN DOMESTIC FELINES
» Área de pesquisa: DOENÇAS VETORIAIS
» Instituição: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Campus de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
» Agência de fomento e patrocinadores:
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic diseases caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus, characteristic of rural and periurban environments. American Visceral Leishmaniasis has the Leishmania chagasi as its aetiological agent. Dogs (Canis familiaris) have a major importance in the transmission of the disease, because it is a reservoir that has close relation with humans and is also an infection source for Phlebotomine vectors. However, the increase of feline leishmaniasis cases reported in the scientific literature since 1990, suggests that domestic cats may be also involved in this disease’s epidemiology. The present research project analyzed the prevalence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in domestic cats naturally infected from different neighbourhoods in the city of Belém- Pará using the Indirect Immunoflourescence Assay (IFA) and the Direct Aglutination Test (DAT). Among the 443 samples, 18 (4.06%) presented positive reaction in the IIFT. The titles found were 40 IU in 4.97% of the samples and 80 IU in 0.90%. In the DAT test, positivity was found in 25 (5.64%) of the samples. The observed titles were also of 40 IU (4.97%) and 80 IU (0.68%). The agreement rate between both test was considered low (Kappa coefficient = 0.10). The antibody research in feline population is particularly important for the public health scope, since cats, as well as dogs, are animals of closer coexistence with humans, and their epidemiological role hasn't been properly clarified. Keywords: Indirect Immunoflourescence Assay, Direct Aglutination Test, leishmaniasis, cats
