猫现在被认为是婴儿利什曼原虫的有效宿主和白蛉媒介的血液来源。尽管犬利什曼病（CanL）在地中海盆地国家流行，但缺乏针对猫利什​​曼病（FeL）的大规模流行病学研究。本研究旨在评估地中海盆地六个国家家猫群体中婴儿乳杆菌感染的患病率、相关危险因素、临床体征和临床病理学异常。2019年至2022年，对活体猫（n = 2067只）的血液和血清样本进行了研究。收集了意大利（n = 300）、希腊（n = 297）、葡萄牙（n = 295）、法国（n = 231）、以色列（n = 313）和西班牙（n = 631）以及动物数据（即年龄、性别、品种、居住条件和地理起源）、临床体征和实验室血液检测参数。根据年龄将猫分为小猫（1 岁以下）、幼猫（1 岁以上且 7 岁以下）、成年猫（7 岁至 10 岁之间）和老年猫（10 岁以上）。通过免疫荧光抗体测试（IFAT）和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）对血清样本进行婴儿乳杆菌检测，并对血清阳性猫的血液样本进行婴儿乳杆菌动质体脱氧核糖核酸（kDNA）检测。所有入组的猫均通过分子方法解决了猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）和猫白血病病毒（FeLV）的病毒感染问题。进行统计分析以评估婴儿乳杆菌感染风险与自变量之间的关联，以及婴儿乳杆菌与 FIV 和/或 FeLV 的合并感染、临床体征和临床病理学异常之间的关联。总体而言，17.3%（358/ 2067) 的猫通过血清学检测得出婴儿乳杆菌阳性。其中，葡萄牙占24.7%，希腊占23.2%，以色列占16.6%，西班牙占15%，法国占13.3%，意大利占12.6%。在 15 只血清反应呈阳性的动物中检测到婴儿利什曼原虫 DNA。住房条件和 FIV 感染被证明是 FeL 的危险因素。利什曼原虫血清阳性与体重减轻、淋巴结肿大、龈口炎和口腔溃疡，以及白蛋白和白蛋白/球蛋白比率降低、总球蛋白和总蛋白增加、白细胞增多和血小板增多显着相关。这项研究首次提供，对 FeL 及其临床表现的大规模流行病学调查表明，婴儿乳杆菌在家猫中传播，尤其是生活在地中海盆地 CanL 流行国家的庇护所/自由漫游和感染 FIV 的动物。© 2024。作者（s）。

Cats are now recognized as competent hosts for Leishmania infantum and a blood source for sand fly vectors. Although canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic in Mediterranean Basin countries, large-scale epidemiological studies are lacking for feline leishmaniosis (FeL). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of L. infantum infections, associated risk factors, clinical signs, and clinicopathological abnormalities in domestic cat populations from six Mediterranean Basin countries.From 2019 to 2022, blood and serum samples of cats (n = 2067) living in Italy (n = 300), Greece (n = 297), Portugal (n = 295), France (n = 231), Israel (n = 313), and Spain (n = 631) were collected along with animal data (i.e., age, sex, breed, housing conditions, and geographical origin), clinical signs, and laboratory blood test parameters. Cats were grouped according to their age as kittens (up to 1 year), young (older than 1 and younger than 7 years), mature (between 7 and 10 years), and senior (older than 10 years). Serum samples were tested for L. infantum by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and blood samples of seropositive cats were tested for L. infantum kinetoplast deoxyribonucleic acid (kDNA). Viral infection by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was molecularly addressed in all cats enrolled. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the risk of L. infantum infection and independent variables, and among co-infection of L. infantum with FIV and/or FeLV, clinical signs, and clinicopathological abnormalities.Overall, 17.3% (358/2067) of cats scored positive for L. infantum by serological tests. Specifically, 24.7% were from Portugal, 23.2% from Greece, 16.6% from Israel, 15% from Spain, 13.3% from France, and 12.6% from Italy. Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in 15 seropositive animals. Housing condition and FIV infection proved to be risk factors for FeL. Leishmania seropositivity was significantly associated with weight loss, lymphadenomegaly, gingivostomatitis, and oral ulcers, as well as with reduced albumin and albumin/globulin ratio, increased total globulins and total proteins, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis.This study provides, for the first time, a large-scale epidemiological survey on FeL and its clinical presentation, revealing that L. infantum circulates among domestic cats, especially shelter/free-roaming and FIV-infected animals, living in CanL endemic countries of the Mediterranean Basin.© 2024. The Author(s).