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- Title
A CROSS- SECTIONAL STUDY OF LEISHMANIA INFANTUM INFECTION IN STRAY CATS IN ALGIERS’ SUBURBS, ALGERIA, AND EVALUATION OF SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR TESTS FOR ITS DIAGNOSIS.
- Authors
Mohamed-Cherif, Abdellah; Bellatreche, Aicha Yasmine; Ait-Oudhia, Khatima
- Abstract
In the Mediterranean basin, the common and most important cause of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) is Leishmania infantum. Although dogs represent the main reservoir host of L. infantum and the most significant risk factor of ZVL, many cases of feline leishmaniasis (FeL) have been reported within ZVL’s endemic areas. When no data of FeL in Algeria existed, the present study was carried out to determine for the first time the prevalence of leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum in stray cats in Algiers’ suburbs (Asub), Algeria and to evaluate the accuracy of serological and molecular tests and their reliable combination to be used in epidemiological surveys. A total of 388 blood samples from stray cats were tested with IFAT, ELISA and qPCR. The results showed that 17% were positive by IFAT, 22.42% were positive by ELISA and 36.6 % were positive by qPCR. The Kappa index (P < 0.05) showed a strong agreement between IFAT and ELISA (k= 0.83), and moderate agreement between IFAT and qPCR (k= 0.524). The sensitivity was 100 % for both ELISA and qPCR. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that L. infantum was detected among cats in Asub, Algeria. However, further studies are necessary to determine more accurately the role of cats in the epidemiology of this protozoan and whether this species should be really considered as an alternative reservoir of this parasite.
- Subjects
ALGERIA; ALGIERS (Algeria); SERODIAGNOSIS; LEISHMANIASIS; LEISHMANIA infantum; VISCERAL leishmaniasis; MOLECULAR diagnosis; CATS; SUBURBS
- Publication
Veterinaria, 2022, Vol 71, Issue 1, p73
- ISSN
0372-6827
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.51607/22331360.2022.71.1.73