Feline leishmaniasis (L. infantum) in Paraguay. Diagnose, treatment and evolution

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a group of zoonotic diseases caused by a protozoa of the genus Leishmania sp. There have been numerous cases in canines, and in recent years isolated cases in felines were reported. Therefore, cats that live in endemic areas of leishmaniasis are significantly more likely to be infected. It is probable that feline’s immune system is able to control the infection of the parasite, either by eliminating it or by keeping it in a chronic subclinical state. We report a feline case, young adult from Asuncion (Paraguay) with non-specific clinical symptoms. Complementary hematological studies were performed, among them peripheral blood smear and bone marrow puncture, that allowed the identification of the presence of amastigotes of Leishmania sp. L. infantum was identified by molecular techniques. Patient was submitted to treatment, with favorable response and total remission of clinical signs. The identification of the protozoa is determinant for the diagnosis of this disease. Therefore, feline leishmaniasis is less frequent, but not non-existent, and should be included as a differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas.