Feline leishmaniosis in Portugal: 3 cases (year 2014)

- Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in many European countries.
- Dogs are the major reservoir of L. infantum, but domestic cats can also be infected.
- Three clinical cases of feline leishmaniosis with ocular signs are described.
- All the affected cats had high serum titres of antibodies to L. infantum.
- The prevalence of infection and even disease may be underestimated in cats.

Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is a zoonotic disease endemic in many countries of America, Asia and Europe, including Portugal. Dogs are the major reservoir of L. infantum, but domestic cats may also be infected. Three clinical cases of feline leishmaniosis are described, with ocular clinical signs as the only manifestation of the disease. A case had bilateral anterior uveitis and a granulomatous conjunctivitis, another one presented keratitis and the third case had a nodular blepharitis. All the affected cats had high serum titres of antibodies to L. infantum, while polymerase chain reaction results were positive in two of the cats. Although all cats in the present study improved after treatment with meglumine antimoniate and/or allopurinol, one of them died 6 months later apparently due to a systemic L. infantum infection. The prevalence of disease may be underestimated in cats, because leishmaniosis is often not considered in the differential diagnosis of feline diseases. Feline leishmaniosis should be suspected in cats with ocular clinical signs and in those living in or traveling to areas where the zoonosis is endemic.