Leishmania spp. diagnosis and therapeutic management in a cat from urban area in Ibagué (Colombia).

BACKGROUND: Leishmania spp., a protozoan transmitted by sandflies, widely affects humans and dogs in Colombia, nevertheless feline leishmaniasis (FeL) remains understudied. OBJECTIVE: This study reports a case of feline leishmaniasis in Colombia and its therapeutic management. METHODS: Complete blood count, renal and hepatic serum biochemistry, nodular lesion cytology, FeLV/FIV snap test, abdominal ultrasound, and molecular diagnosis of Leishmania spp. 16 s rRNA gene amplification by real-time-PCR (qPCR), ITS-1 and hsp70 gene by endpoint-PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed. RESULTS: The patient was negative for FIV/FeLV and showed leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia, monocytosis, hypergammaglobulinemia, increased gamma-glutamyl-transferase, cortical nephrocalcinosis, diffuse heterogeneous splenic parenchyma, and cholangitis. Nodular lesion cytology, qPCR and Sanger sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of Leishmania spp. The patient was treated with allopurinol and miltefosine. After treatment, clinical signs disappeared. CONCLUSION: Clinical examination, cytology, and molecular tests allowed a rapid and sensitive FeL diagnosis. Allopurinol and miltefosine improved the clinical condition of the cat.

Molecular characterization of HEPCIDIN-1 (HAMP1) gene in red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus).

Hepcidins are cysteine-rich peptides, which participate in iron metabolism regulation, the inflammatory and antimicrobial response. This study characterizes the hepcidin-1 (HAMP1) gene, its transcript expression in different tissues, as well as its regulation in a model of brain injury in Piaractus brachypomus. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to determine conserved domains, glycosylation sites and protein structure of HAMP1, and probability that HAMP1 corresponds to an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Relative gene expression of the P. brachypomus HAMP1 gene was determined by qPCR from cDNA of several tissues, a brain injury model, an organophosphate sublethal toxicity model and anesthetic experiment using the 2-ΔΔCt method. HAMP1 ORF encodes for a 91 aa pre-prohepcidin conformed for a prodomain with 42 aa and mature peptide of 25 aa. Mature domain was determined as an AMP. HAMP1 transcript is expressed in all the tissues, being higher in the spleen and liver. HAMP1 mRNA level was upregulated in the brain injury group, as well as in the olfactory bulb, optic chiasm and telencephalon of red-bellied pacu brain exposed to an organophosphate. In anesthetic experiment, HAMP1 mRNA level was upregulated in the liver and gills. HAMP1 gene of P. brachypomus may be involved in the inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypoxia and stress oxidative response.