Leishmaniasis in Felis catus, 35 years after the first report in Venezuela
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51252/revza.v6i2.1768Keywords:
Leishmania, Felis catus, amastigote, cytology, zoonoses, VenezuelaAbstract
A case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a seven-year-old female cat (Felis catus) residing in El Cercado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela, is described. The patient presented with a chronic granulomatous lesion of four years' duration, characterized by destruction of the nasal planum and stertorous breathing. Cytology of the ulcer (Giemsa stain) revealed intense pyogranulomatous inflammation with abundant macrophages infected by intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania sp. (2–4 µm), identifiable by their characteristic kinetoplast. This finding confirms the persistence and proliferation of this zoonosis in the region, highlighting the urgent need to include felines in regional epidemiological surveillance programs.
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