Baharak Akhtardanesh

Background: Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) are common in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions for arthropod perpetuation coupled with limited preventive measures. However, data regarding the actual burden of these infections among cats are still scarce compared with dogs. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence of FeVBPs infections in Iran. Methods: From December 2018 to February 2023, a total of 848 cats of both sexes, different ages, and with outdoor lifestyle living in 7 provinces of Iran were blood sampled and molecularly screened for Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp., Dirofilaria spp., and Leishmania spp. Results: Overall, 5.4% of cats scored positive for at least one VBP, with Hepatozoon spp. being the most common (3.8%), followed by Leishmania spp. (2.5%) and Dirofilaria immitis (0.7%). The Hepatozoon-positive cats lived in localities from the eastern, western, and central-northern regions; most of them (n = 25) were infected by Hepatozoon felis, and the remaining (n = 3) by Hepatozoon canis. Leishmania spp.-infected cats were detected from the east, center, and west of the country, while D. immitis-positive animals lived in central-north areas. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of vector-borne pathogens in cats in Iran. The circulation of several VBPs, including those with zoonotic potential (i.e., D. immitis and Leishmania spp.) highlights the importance of endo- and ectoparasite control measures in owned cats and suggests that controlling the population of feral animals (e.g., through spaying and neutering campaigns) would contribute to reducing the risk of transmission of VBPs. Graphical

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.

Leishmaniasis is an important neglected disease among infectious diseases, which is highly affected by diverse adverse conditions. Due to the intricate nature of Leishmania , the impact of the disease remains significant. In this review, we aim to assess the role of these factors that influence disease trends and introduce preventive and control strategies, highlighting their importance in public health issues. Numerous influencing factors, such as trade and travel, civil unrest, migration, low socioeconomic status, peri‐urban settlements, ecological changes, climate variations, and many other confounding factors, play significant roles in the transmission and distribution of leishmaniasis. On the other hand, inadequate infrastructure and disruptions in the health system services are closely linked with the incidence of leishmaniasis in vulnerable populations. These circumstances contribute to the alteration of vector and reservoir compositions, land degradation, agricultural setbacks, water scarcity, and livestock depletion, resulting in increased infectious and noninfectious disease conditions. In conclusion, significant anthropic and natural environmental changes have the potential to trigger leishmaniasis outbreaks in established endemic areas and lead to the emergence/reemergence of new foci in previously unaffected regions. Consequently, enhancing public health awareness, particularly in high‐risk regions, along with implementing active and passive surveillance, ensuring early diagnosis, and providing timely and effective treatment for patients, are vital measures for controlling the disease.

Dogs are the primary reservoirs of Leishmania infantum (L. infantum), but Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) infection is also possible in dogs and can transmitted to humans. The southeast of Iran experiences a high prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (CanL), and veterinarians frequently encounter symptomatic cases. Therefore, from December 2017 to November 2022, the present case series was designed to assess the prevalence of CanL in owned dogs with cutaneous manifestations resembling CanL. A total of 500 owned dogs with dermal lesions from two endemic cities, Zabol and Kerman, were enrolled. Impression smears from skin lesions and popliteal lymph nodes were prepared from all cases, whereas blood samples were gathered from amastigote-positive dogs for serological and molecular surveys. Commercial ELISA was done on sera samples, and two-step nested PCR was used on extracted DNA to amplify variable fragments of the Leishmania species’ kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Leishman bodies were microscopically detected in 7.2% (36/500) of dermal smears. Of the 360 owned dogs from Zabol, 2 have been diagnosed with L. tropica, and 10 have been diagnosed with L. infantum. Out of 140 owned dogs from Kerman, 8 were identified with L. tropica infection, and 16 were infected with L. infantum. Molecular results revealed the presence of 750 full dual-band bases related to the L. tropica species in 10/36 (27.7%) cases, which showed a considerable increase in canine cutaneous leishmaniosis compared with previous studies in southeastern Iran. The noticeable prevalence of L. tropica in owned dogs indicated that the dog’s role in cutaneous leishmaniosis should be re-evaluated as a possible animal reservoir in endemic areas.