Diagnóstico de leishmaniose em Felis catus domesticus de área urbana endêmica da região norte do Brasil

Abstract

Considering that Tocantins is one of the main brazilian states with the greatest number of cases of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis and that the cat can act as a possible reservoir for the disease, it was aimed to detect the presence of Leishmania spp. in domestic cats of the endemic municipality of Araguaína, state of Tocantins, approaching the possible associations with the infection (individual characteristics of the animals, presence of clinical signs and co-infections). For this, blood, bone marrow, lymph node, liver, spleen and skin samples were analyzed by direct examination, Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Serum samples were also tested for Feline immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) using the SNAPshot Dx, IDEXX® test. Anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies were detected in 26.2% (22/84) (IC: 172% - 36.9%) of the animals. Of these, 22.7% (5/22) (CI: 0.74% - 10.12%) were reactive for FeLV, one of which also showed positivity for FIV. There was no association between these infections and leishmaniasis (p = 0.1189). Variables such as sex, hair length, coat color, body condition, age and race had no association with seropositivity (p> 0.05). The frequency of L. (L.) infantum chagasi obtained by PCR was 4.4% (5/113) (CI: 1.5% - 10%) and the result obtained through direct parasitological examination was 5.3% (3/57) (CI: 1.1% - 14.6%). Among the positive animals in the molecular diagnosis (5/113), 75% (3/4) of the spleen, submandibular lymph nodes and skin samples, 60% (3/5) of the blood samples and 33.33% (1/3) of the bone marrow samples showed positivity. Of the animals that presented amastigote forms in the direct examination (3/57), all tested tissues were positive (3/3). The agreement between PCR and parasitological examination was considered moderate (Kappa = 0.544, CI: 0.2874 - 0.8006). There was an association between positivity and animals presenting at least one clinical sign (p = 0.0231). Among these signs, splenomegaly (p =0.0069) and hepatomegaly (p = 0.0008) were statistically significant. The results obtained here represent a considerable impact from the point of view of public health, since the leishmaniasis is serious a zoonosis present mainly undeveloped regions and in the process of urbanization, as is the case of Tocantins. Thus, it is recommended the development and intensification of control measures directed to the feline species, such as the awareness of organs and health professionals, the orientation of the population regarding the importance of responsible care, veterinary assistance and environmental care, and training of veterinary professionals in order to act in the precise diagnosis of the infection.