Leishmania infantum-specific IFN-? production in stimulated blood from cats living in areas where canine leishmaniosis is endemic

Priolo, Vito; Martínez-Orellana, Pamela; Pennisi, Maria Grazia; Masucci, Marisa; Prandi, David; Ippolito, Dorotea; Bruno, Federica; Castelli, Germano; Solano-Gallego, Laia

The main aim of this study was to determine the L. infantum-specific cellular immune response in cats by means of the evaluation of IFN-γ production in stimulated blood from cats living in endemic areas of CanL (Catalonia and Sicily) and correlate it with L. infantum antibody levels, blood parasitemia, and retroviral status. and at Ambulatorio Veterinario Santa Lucia (Lipari, Messina). Inclusion criteria for enrollment included the exposure to at least one sand-fly season and no treatment with repellent ectoparasiticides (i.e. pyrethroid products). Sex, age class, breed, clinical status, lifestyle of pet cats (indoors, outdoors), and number of stray cats at each sampling site are summarized in Table 1 . Age was classified as follows: young (6-18 months); adult (between 19 and 96 months); and old (> 96 months). The clinical status of cats was defined as "sick" or "apparently healthy" based on data available from history and physical examination. Sick cats were considered when clinical signs compatible with FeL (i.e. lymph node enlargement, skin, mucosal or eye lesions, stomatitis, weight loss, chronic kidney disease, anaemia) were found as previously described [7] . Apparently healthy cats were considered when no clinical signs were present with the exception of four cats admitted because of trauma that were also included in this group.