Feline leishmaniosis: A case with a high parasitic burden

Leishmaniosis is a widespread zoonotic disease with the potential for significant impact on public health. Although dogs are the main reservoir host, the role of other domestic species in transmission of the disease should be considered, and felids may represent an alternative source of infection.1 We describe a case of Leishmania infantum infection in a cat with oral lesions associated with a high parasitic load detected by a quantitative PCR technique. A 5-year-old male short-haired cat was presented for evaluation of respiratory signs, conjunctivitis and oral lesions. Clinical examination revealed a poor-quality hair coat, bilateral conjunctivitis, nasal exudate and a diffuse hyperplastic and ulcerative stomatitis. Complete blood count and serum protein electrophoresis values were within normal range, and screening tests for feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus were negative. Histopathological evaluation of biopsy tissue from the oral lesion confirmed severe, diffuse granulomatous stomatitis, with numerous macrophages containing intracytoplasmic protozoal organisms (Figure 1). Serology was negative for Toxoplasma and Neospora and positive for Leishmania by an indirect fluorescent antibody titre of 1:320.2 A diagnosis of feline leishmaniosis was confirmed.