Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights
Abstract In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical findings and efficacy of different diagnostic methods in feline visceral leishmaniasis (FVL) experimental model. Healthy adult cats were divided into trial and control groups. The first and second trial groups received 108 and 109 promastigot...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96698-w |
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| author | Akhtardanesh Baharak Mostafavi Ali Mostafavi Mahshid Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi Mohamad Sharifi Iraj Abbaszadeh Hasiri Mohammad Kheirandish Reza Hajipour Pooneh Barkhordarnasab Azimeh Shokrollahi Nasim Keyhani Alireza Sina kakooei |
| author_facet | Akhtardanesh Baharak Mostafavi Ali Mostafavi Mahshid Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi Mohamad Sharifi Iraj Abbaszadeh Hasiri Mohammad Kheirandish Reza Hajipour Pooneh Barkhordarnasab Azimeh Shokrollahi Nasim Keyhani Alireza Sina kakooei |
| author_sort | Akhtardanesh Baharak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical findings and efficacy of different diagnostic methods in feline visceral leishmaniasis (FVL) experimental model. Healthy adult cats were divided into trial and control groups. The first and second trial groups received 108 and 109 promastigotes of leishmania infantum (L. infantum) in the stationary phase intravenously and sterile isotonic distilled water (DW) was inoculated for control cats by the same volume and route. The follow-up examination was done up to 24 weeks post-inoculation(PI). Daily clinical examination and monthly blood sampling were done for serological, molecular, hematological, and biochemical evaluations. Bone marrow (BM) aspiration was started from the second month and repeated every 2 months until the end of study. Finally the cats were euthanized and histopathological examination and organ culture were performed. The blood and bone-marrow samples of all inoculated cats were positive at nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) from the second and 8 weeks PI respectively and remained positive during the study. L. infantum amastigotes were detected in BM direct smear after 12 weeks and BM culture was positive at this time. N-PCR of Liver and lymph nodes, were positive in three cats in each experimental groups. In histopathological examination, amastigotes were not observed in organs but sinus histiocytosis in the spleen and lymphoid hyperplasia were the major histopathological changes. All cats remained seronegative in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) until the end of the study. All infected cats had a reasonable healthand no significant alteration in laboratory findings was noted. Long-lasting parasitemia and the presence of L. infantum in bone marrow, revealed that cats could be considered as secondary reservoirs for L. infantum. N-PCR is the best screening diagnostic method because the humoral immune response is not well activated in the feline model and antibody titers were not detected in the initial phase of L. infantum infection. Further studies are crucial to elucidate the immune system function and pathogenesis of L. infantum in cats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dbaa7a5e7a4b46f4981ba4550053fdaf |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dbaa7a5e7a4b46f4981ba4550053fdaf2025-08-20T01:47:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-96698-wAdvancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insightsAkhtardanesh Baharak0Mostafavi Ali1Mostafavi Mahshid2Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi Mohamad3Sharifi Iraj4Abbaszadeh Hasiri Mohammad5Kheirandish Reza6Hajipour Pooneh7Barkhordarnasab Azimeh8Shokrollahi Nasim9Keyhani Alireza10Sina kakooei11Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz UniversityLeishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical ScincesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanLeishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical ScincesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanLeishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical ScincesEndodontology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical SciencesAbstract In this study, we aimed to identify the clinical findings and efficacy of different diagnostic methods in feline visceral leishmaniasis (FVL) experimental model. Healthy adult cats were divided into trial and control groups. The first and second trial groups received 108 and 109 promastigotes of leishmania infantum (L. infantum) in the stationary phase intravenously and sterile isotonic distilled water (DW) was inoculated for control cats by the same volume and route. The follow-up examination was done up to 24 weeks post-inoculation(PI). Daily clinical examination and monthly blood sampling were done for serological, molecular, hematological, and biochemical evaluations. Bone marrow (BM) aspiration was started from the second month and repeated every 2 months until the end of study. Finally the cats were euthanized and histopathological examination and organ culture were performed. The blood and bone-marrow samples of all inoculated cats were positive at nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) from the second and 8 weeks PI respectively and remained positive during the study. L. infantum amastigotes were detected in BM direct smear after 12 weeks and BM culture was positive at this time. N-PCR of Liver and lymph nodes, were positive in three cats in each experimental groups. In histopathological examination, amastigotes were not observed in organs but sinus histiocytosis in the spleen and lymphoid hyperplasia were the major histopathological changes. All cats remained seronegative in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) until the end of the study. All infected cats had a reasonable healthand no significant alteration in laboratory findings was noted. Long-lasting parasitemia and the presence of L. infantum in bone marrow, revealed that cats could be considered as secondary reservoirs for L. infantum. N-PCR is the best screening diagnostic method because the humoral immune response is not well activated in the feline model and antibody titers were not detected in the initial phase of L. infantum infection. Further studies are crucial to elucidate the immune system function and pathogenesis of L. infantum in cats.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96698-wCatLeishmania infantumExperimental infectionNested-PCRELISAHistopathology |
| spellingShingle | Akhtardanesh Baharak Mostafavi Ali Mostafavi Mahshid Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi Mohamad Sharifi Iraj Abbaszadeh Hasiri Mohammad Kheirandish Reza Hajipour Pooneh Barkhordarnasab Azimeh Shokrollahi Nasim Keyhani Alireza Sina kakooei Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights Scientific Reports Cat Leishmania infantum Experimental infection Nested-PCR ELISA Histopathology |
| title | Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| title_full | Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| title_fullStr | Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| title_short | Advancing diagnosis of feline Leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| title_sort | advancing diagnosis of feline leishmania infantum infection through experimental insights |
| topic | Cat Leishmania infantum Experimental infection Nested-PCR ELISA Histopathology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96698-w |
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