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Canine and Feline Leishmaniosis: Research Advances and Diagnostic Innovations

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Dear Colleagues,

Leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by infected female sand flies and prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Dogs are the primary domestic reservoirs; however, recent studies highlight infections in other species, particularly cats, now considered likely additional domestic reservoirs.

Progress in understanding host immunity has improved the prevention and management of canine and feline leishmaniosis. Disease progression involves a strong humoral response, suppressed cell-mediated immunity, and clinical signs, whereas resistance is characterized by minimal signs and a strong Th1-type response. Recent findings suggest that cats elicit parasite-specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

While canine leishmaniosis benefits from validated diagnostic protocols, feline diagnosis is currently more complex. Coinfections and comorbidities complicate feline diagnosis.

This Special Issue seeks to foster collaboration among scientists investigating canine and feline leishmaniosis, including its epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. We invite original research and reviews offering novel insights into Leishmania infection.

We look forward to receiving impactful contributions that advance scientific knowledge in this evolving field.

Dr. Giulia Donato
Dr. Germano Castelli
Dr. Federica Bruno
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14 pages, 688 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Acute Phase Proteins in Cats Naturally Infected or Seropositive for Leishmania infantum

by Eva Spada, Germano Castelli, Federica Bruno, Fabrizio Vitale, Eugenia Oliveri, Maria Liliana Di Pasquale, Vito Biondi, Antonella Migliazzo, Roberta Perego, Luciana Baggiani, Lora Koenhemsi, Merve Alan, Mehmet Erman Or and Daniela Proverbio

Animals 2026, 16(11), 1625; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16111625 - 27 May 2026

Viewed by 221

Abstract

Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) caused by Leishmania infantum is increasingly recognized in endemic areas, but the inflammatory profile during infection remains poorly defined. This case–control study evaluated the acute phase proteins (APPs) serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and ceruloplasmin (Cp) in cats with anti-L. infantum antibodies and/or DNA and compared them with healthy negative controls. A total of 125 cats were enrolled, including 62 cats positive by IFAT and/or qPCR and 63 healthy controls. Total protein, albumin, albumin-to-globulin ratio (A/G), and serum protein electrophoresis were also assessed, and correlations with APPs were investigated in positive cats. Compared with controls, L. infantum-positive cats had significantly higher Hp and Cp concentrations, whereas SAA did not differ significantly. They also showed higher total protein, beta2- and gamma-globulin concentrations and lower albumin and A/G ratio. SAA and Hp were negatively correlated with albumin, whereas Cp was positively correlated with total protein and beta-globulin fractions. No significant correlations were found between APPs and IFAT antibody titer. In exploratory analyses, IFAT seropositivity (cut-off ≥ 1:80) was associated with higher Hp, whereas qPCR positivity was associated with higher SAA and Cp concentrations; however, these results should be interpreted cautiously because qPCR-positive cats were few. These findings indicate a measurable inflammatory and dysproteinemic profile in cats with laboratory evidence of L. infantum exposure and/or infection, but do not establish APPs as disease-specific diagnostic markers. However, diagnostic heterogeneity, limited qPCR testing, lack of standardized clinical staging, and possible confounding diseases limit causal and clinical interpretation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Canine and Feline Leishmaniosis: Research Advances and Diagnostic Innovations)

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