Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32571332›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2020

Clinical, haematological and biochemical findings in tigers infected by Leishmania infantum.

Maria Alfonsa Cavalera, Roberta Iatta, Pietro Laricchiuta, Giuseppe Passantino, Francesca Abramo, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Domenico Otranto, Andrea Zatelli

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC veterinary research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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  6. The relationships amongInternational journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Maria Alfonsa CavaleraDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
Roberta IattaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
Pietro LaricchiutaZoo Safari di Fasano, Fasano, 72015, Brindisi, Italy.
Giuseppe PassantinoDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
Francesca AbramoDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-RoldanDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
Domenico OtrantoDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy.
Andrea ZatelliDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy. andrea.zatelli@uniba.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0001-7710
University of Bari Aldo Moro · ITBu-Ali Sina University · IRUniversity of Pisa · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA large number of animal species are susceptible to Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) in endemic areas, including domestic and wild felids such as tigers (Panthera tigris). Knowledge on the infection of this endangered species is still at its infancy, and therefore this study aims to identify clinical presentation and clinicopathological findings of tigers naturally infected by L. infantum.

resultsTigers either L. infantum-positive (group A) or -negative (group B) were apparently healthy or presented visceral leishmaniasis unrelated conditions, except for one animal in which a large non-healing cutaneous lesion was observed. However, histological exam and immunohistochemistry carried out on the lesion excluded the presence of L. infantum amastigotes. Biochemical analysis showed that the average concentration of total proteins, globulins and haptoglobin were significantly higher (p < 0.01, p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively), while the albumin/globulin ratio significantly lower (p = 0.05) in group A compared with group B. The biochemical alterations were partially confirmed by the serum protein electrophoresis results revealing a significant increase in the total protein value (p = 0.01) and hypergammaglobulinemia (p = 0.03) but an unmodified albumin/globulin ratio in group A.

conclusionsIn this study tigers infected by L. infantum have shown to be mainly asymptomatic. The absence of clinical signs may lead veterinarians to overlook leishmaniasis in animals kept in captivity. Therefore, diagnostic and screening tests as serology should be part of routinely surveillance programs to be performed on tigers in zoological gardens located in endemic areas. Though only few protein-related laboratory abnormalities were recorded in infected animals, they could provide diagnostic clues for a first suspicion of L. infantum infection in tigers. Indeed, considering the high risk of zoonotic transmission in heavily frequented environment as zoos, a prompt diagnosis of L. infantum infection is of pivotal importance.

Indexed as

AnimalsAnimals, ZooBlood ProteinsEndangered SpeciesHypergammaglobulinemiaItalyLeishmania infantumLeishmaniasis, VisceralTigersBlood ProteinsDysproteinemiaLaboratory abnormalitiesLeishmaniasisSymptomatologyTiger

Identifiers

PMID32571332
PMCPMC7310479
OpenAlexW3036942486

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.