全球报道了猫型利什曼虫感染，但在利什曼病循环中，家猫的流行病学角色仍然不清楚，并且在无猫型利什曼虫病例的地区可能是潜在的储主宿主。因此，通过间接免疫荧光抗体试验（IFAT）对389份施行尸检的猫血清样本进行了抗利什曼虫（Leishmania spp.）抗体的血清学筛查，以揭示是否有接触到该寄生虫的情况。Leishmania spp.的总血清流行病学为11.05%（43/389）。性别，结扎状态，年龄组，品种，毛长，猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）感染以及Leishmania spp.抗体检测之间没有发现相关性。发现与毛色（属于橙色光谱中带有白色的猫[particolor]）呈正相关（OR=2.47，CI 95％ 1 - 6.13，P=0.044），与猫白血病病毒（FeLV）感染之间存在负相关（OR=0.38，CI 95％ 0.18 - 0.79，P=0.01）。因此，可以得出结论，所发现的血清流行病学大于10％，表示该地区的猫与原生动物有接触。© 2023. 本文作者以独家许可给德国斯普林格出版公司，属于斯普林格自然公司的一部分。

Feline leishmanial infection is reported worldwide, but the epidemiological role of domestic cats in the leishmaniasis cycle remains unclear, and cats might act as cryptic reservoir hosts in endemic areas with no feline leishmaniosis cases. Considering that, a serological screening for anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies was performed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) in 389 necropsied cats' serum samples from a new visceral leishmaniasis transmission area with no feline leishmanial infection reported to unveil if the cats are being exposed to the parasite. The overall seroprevalence for Leishmania spp. was 11.05% (43/389). No association was found between sex, neutering status, age group, breed, coat length, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection, and Leishmania spp. antibody detection. A positive association was found with coat color (cats within the orange spectrum with white [particolor]) (OR = 2.47, CI 95% 1 - 6.13, P = 0.044) and a negative association (OR = 0.38, CI 95% 0.18 - 0.79, P = 0.01) between feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and IFAT positivity for Leishmania spp. Therefore, it is concluded that the seroprevalence found was greater than 10%, indicating contact of the protozoan with cats in the region served.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.