Specific Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in Cats and Dogs: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Dogs are the main reservoir of and display different immunological patterns correlating with the progression of infection to disease. Data about feline adaptive immune response are scant. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and immune response in cats and dogs from the same endemic area of canine leishmaniosis. Stray cats (109) and rescued dogs (59) from Córdoba (Spain) were enrolled. Data about their exposure to were analyzed by detection of parasite DNA, measurements of specific interferon-γ (whole blood assay in 57 cats and 29 dogs), and antibodies (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence antibody test). An overall prevalence of 30.5% in dogs and 30% in cats were found according to serology and PCR tests. Prevalence was 44.8% in dogs and 35.1% in cats tested also for interferon-γ production. Dogs showed higher anti- antibody levels compared to cats. More than one-third of cats had contact with or were infected by and they may contribute to the endemicity of leishmaniosis in the investigated region. The immunopathogenesis of feline infection has similarities with dogs but cats show a lower level of adaptive immune response compared to dogs.