Leishmaniasis or leishmaniosis in cats is a chronic disease caused by a protozoan called Leishmania infantum. It is an emerging disease, which means that is expanding In addition, it is a zoonosis, which, as such, can affect humans, although it is more commonly diagnosed in dogs. It always has to be treated by a veterinarian and, even so, unfortunately, it can be fatal.
Given its expansion and its zoonotic potential, it is important to prevent it. For this, it must be taken into account that it is transmitted through the bite of insects of the genus Phlebotomus. In this article on our site we talk about the leishmaniasis in cats, its symptoms, contagion and treatment
What is leishmaniasis in cats?
As we have advanced, leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by a protozoan that enters the cat's body from the bite of a sandfly insect infected with leishmanias. There are different manifestations of the disease, with more or less severe clinical signs. Very common in dogs, leishmaniasis was considered a very rare pathology in cats, it was believed that due to its natural resistance and the effective response of its immune system, but it is also possible that it was simply underdiagnosed.
Currently, its incidence is increasing in a worrying way, since factors such as climate change or globalization favor the conditions in those that proliferate the sandflies that transmit it. In addition, cats suffering from diseases that reduce the effectiveness of their immune system, such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency, or being treated with immunosuppressive drugs are considered to be at increased risk of developing it.
How is leishmaniasis spread in cats?
Sandflies can become infested with leishmanias when they bite an animal sick with leishmaniasis and, at the moment they bite another, they can transmit the disease. The cat, like the dog, would be capable of acting as a reservoir of the disease. The contagion of leishmaniasis, therefore, only occurs from sandflies, although there is also a risk in blood transfusions. A cat cannot infect directly to another animal or to a person. Therefore, as we will see, prevention will be based on preventing our cat from being bitten by sandflies.
Symptoms of leishmaniasis in cats
Leishmaniosis in cats is a disease with a long incubation period, that is, our feline can take a long time to show clinical signs and, once they develop, they are quite nonspecific, which it means that they can be common to other pathologies. In cats, the disease can take three different forms:
- Cutaneous form Painless subcutaneous nodules are observed, especially located on the head and neck. In addition, they are usually accompanied by an increase in the size of the nearby lymph nodes, which can become open and ulcerate. Clinical skin signs, such as ulcerative dermatitis, may also be seen.
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Eye Shape. The eyes are affected with conjunctivitis, blepharitis, which is the inflammation of the eyelids, uveitis or inflammation of the uvea, periorbicular alopecia, etc.
- Systemic or generalized form. It is the least common in cats. The main clinical sign is an increase in the size of the lymph nodes. There are also very non-specific signs, such as anorexia, progressive weight loss, apathy, etc.
Diagnosis of leishmania in cats
If the vet suspects that our cat may have leishmaniasis, he will have to do tests to confirm the diagnosis. The clinical signs caused by the disease, being non-specific, do not always allow the disease to be diagnosed only by attending to them. Thus, the veterinarian will take a blood sample to perform specific tests that can determine the presence of leishmania. There are serological tests that quantify the antibodies generated by the animal in the presence of the protozoan. Molecular techniques are also used, such as PCR, and a sample can be taken from the lesions for cytological examination or a biopsy
On the other hand, since leishmaniasis usually appears in cats with a compromised immune system, it is usual to also carry out tests such as blood and urine teststo search for other diseases and get more information about the cat's general condition. Renal failure or anemia are common. Finally, it is convenient to test the cat to find out if it has feline immunodeficiency or leukemia.
Treatment for leishmaniasis in cats
Once our cat's leishmaniasis has been diagnosed, it is the veterinarian who, depending on his particular case, will have to prescribe the most appropriate treatment, which will be aimed at combating the parasite and resolve the symptoms In cats, as there have been fewer diagnoses so far, there is still no protocol developed as in the case of canine leishmaniasis. At the moment, drugs such as allopurinol and n-methyl-meglumine are used. In addition, the animal must have a continuous veterinary follow-upto monitor the state of the parasitosis and any adverse effects of the medication.
On the other hand, as cats with a strong immune system seem to be able to control the parasite, it is recommended to boost it by taking care of the diet, reducing stress, deworming and vaccinating regularly, going to the veterinarian at the slightest sign of illness, etc. Prognosis is good, unless the cat has a complication such as kidney disease.
How to prevent leishmaniasis in cats?
As this is a disease that is transmitted by the bite of sandflies, the main preventive measure is to prevent them from coming into contact with our cat. To do this we can use physical barriers, such as mosquito nets on doors and windows, ultraviolet light trapsor insecticides As for the cat itself, there are several options on the market for parasitizers, but care must be taken to only use products suitable for this species, as those for dogs can be very toxic to cats. If you have any doubts, consult your veterinarian before administering any.
On the other hand, we are more likely to find sandflies at dusk and dawn, so ideally keep the cat indoorsto avoid exposing yourself. The accumulations of organic matter constitute a good habitat for sandflies, so it will be necessary to keep the home environment clean Finally, there is now a vaccine against leishmaniasis in dogs. Hopefully, in the future, this option will also be available for cats.
