Table 1.
Prevalence of Leishmania (molecular and/or serological) and antibodies to Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva in cats from three regions of mainland Portugal
| Variable/categories | Tested cats | Antibodies to P. perniciosus saliva | Antibodies to Leishmania and/or parasite DNA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive cats | 95% CI | P-value | Positive cats | 95% CI | P-value | ||
| Sex, n (%) | 349 | 0.111 (χ2 = 2.535, df = 1) | 0.468 (χ2 = 0.526, df = 1) | ||||
| Female | 191 (54.7) | 84 (44.0) | 37.1–51.1 | 16 (8.4) | 5.2–13.2 | ||
| Male | 158 (45.3) | 83 (52.5) | 44.8–60.2 | 10 (6.3) | 3.5–11.3 | ||
| Age, median (IQR) | 36 (12–96) | 72 (24–121) | <0.001 (Z = -6.379) | 28 (8–96) | 0.301 (Z = -1.034) | ||
| Age group, n (%) | 310 | <0.001 (χ2 = 38.335, df = 3) | 1.866 (χ2 = 1.866, df = 3) | ||||
| 2–11 months | 70 (22.6) | 16 (22.9)a,b | 14.6–34.0 | 7 (10.0) | 4.9–19.2 | ||
| 12–35 months | 67 (21.6) | 25 (37.3)c | 26.7–49.3 | 6 (9.0) | 4.2–18.2 | ||
| 36–95 months | 85 (27.4) | 39 (45.9)a,d | 35.7–56.4 | 4 (4.7) | 1.8–11.5 | ||
| More than 95 months | 88 (28.4) | 62 (70.5)b,c,d | 60.2–79.0 | 6 (6.8) | 3.2–14.1 | ||
| Reproductive status, n (%) | 334 | <0.001 (χ2 = 47.881, df = 1) | 0.693 (χ2 = 0.156, df = 1) | ||||
| Entire | 216 (64.7) | 72 (33.3) | 27.4–39.9 | 14 (6.5) | 3.9–10.6 | ||
| Neutered | 118 (35.3) | 86 (72.9) | 64.2–80.1 | 9 (7.6) | 4.1–13.9 | ||
| Breed, n (%) | 347 | 0.811 (χ2 = 0.057 df = 1) | 0.635f | ||||
| Defined | 18 (5.2) | 9 (50.0) | 29.0–71.0 | 2 (11.1) | 3.1–32.8 | ||
| Mongrel | 329 (94.8) | 155 (47.1) | 41.8–52.5 | 24 (7.3) | 5.0–10.6 | ||
| Fur length, n (%) | 349 | 0.013 (χ2 = 6.229, df = 1) | 0.191f | ||||
| Short | 310 (88.8) | 141 (45.5) | 40.0–51.0 | 21 (6.8) | 4.5–10.1 | ||
| Medium or long | 39 (11.2) | 26 (66.7) | 51.0–79.4 | 5 (12.8) | 5.6–26.7 | ||
| Lifestyle, n (%) | 346 | <0.001 (χ2 = 31.806, df = 1) | 0.522 (χ2 = 0.411, df = 1) | ||||
| Domestic | 145 (41.9) | 95 (65.5) | 57.5–72.8 | 12 (8.3) | 4.8–13.9 | ||
| Shelter/stray | 201 (58.1) | 70 (34.8) | 28.6–41.6 | 13 (6.5) | 3.8–10.8 | ||
| Region, n (%) | 350 | 0.001 (χ2 = 14.246, df = 2) | 0.467f | ||||
| Centre | 61 (17.4) | 41 (67.2)e | 54.7–77.7 | 5 (8.2) | 3.6–17.8 | ||
| Lisbon metropolitan area | 266 (76.0) | 112 (42.1)e | 36.3–48.1 | 18 (6.8) | 5.6–26.7 | ||
| Algarve | 23 (6.6) | 14 (60.9) | 40.8–77.8 | 3 (13.0) | 4.5–32.1 | ||
| Other animals, n (%) | 343 | 0.149 (χ2 = 2.082, df = 1) | 0.197f | ||||
| No | 39 (11.4) | 23 (59.0) | 43.4–72.9 | 5 (12.8) | 5.6–26.7 | ||
| Yes | 304 (88.6) | 142 (46.7) | 41.2–52.3 | 21 (6.9) | 4.6–10.3 | ||
| Ectoparasiticides, n (%) | 332 | <0.001 (χ2 = 20.516, df = 1) | 0.147 (χ2 = 2.101, df = 1) | ||||
| No | 257 (77.4) | 102 (39.7) | 33.9–45.8 | 15 (5.8) | 3.6–9.4 | ||
| Yes | 75 (22.6) | 52 (69.3) | 58.2–78.6 | 8 (10.7) | 5.5–19.7 | ||
| Clinical signs, n (%) | 350 | 0.137 (χ2 = 2.212, df = 1 | 0.899 (χ2 = 0.899, df = 1) | ||||
| No | 252 (72.0) | 114 (45.2) | 39.2–51.4 | 19 (7.5) | 4.9–11.5 | ||
| Yes | 98 (28.0) | 53 (54.1) | 44.3–63.6 | 7 (7.1) | 3.5–14.0 | ||
| Concomitant diseases, n (%) | 181 | 0.185 (χ2 = 1.760, df = 1) | 0.384 (χ2 = 0.759, df = 1) | ||||
| No | 99 (54.7) | 62 (62.6) | 52.8–71.5 | 11 (11.1) | 6.3–18.8 | ||
| Yes | 82 (45.3) | 59 (72.0) | 61.4–80.5 | 6 (7.3) | 3.4–15.1 | ||
| Phlebotomine activity period, n (%) | 350 | <0.001 (χ2 = 102.048, df = 1) | 0.156 (χ2 = 2.016, df = 1) | ||||
| No | 168 (48.0) | 33 (19.6) | 14.3–26.3 | 9 (5.4) | 2.8–9.9 | ||
| Yes | 182 (52.0) | 134 (73.6) | 66.8–79.5 | 0.398 (χ2 = 5.148, df = 5) | 17 (9.3) | 5.9–14.5 | 0.653 (χ2 = 3.308, df = 5) |
| May | 25 (7.1) | 20 (80.0) | 60.9–91.1 | 3 (12.0) | 2.5–31.2 | ||
| June | 20 (5.7) | 14 (70.0) | 48.1–85.5 | 1 (5.0) | 0.9–23.6 | ||
| July | 22 (6.3) | 20 (90.9) | 72.2–97.5 | 2 (9.1) | 2.5–27.8 | ||
| August | 18 (5.1) | 13 (72.2) | 49.1–87.5 | 0 (0.0) | 0.0–17.6 | ||
| September | 24 (6.9) | 17 (70.8) | 50.8–85.1 | 2 (8.3) | 2.3–25.9 | ||
| October | 73 (20.9) | 50 (68.5) | 57.1–78.0 | 9 (12.3) | 6.6–21.8 | ||
| Total, n (%) | 350 | 167 (47.7) | 42.5–52.9 | 26 (7.4) | 5.1–10.7 | ||
aP = 0.003 (χ2 = 8.832, df = 1)
bP < 0.001 (χ2 = 35.110, df = 1)
cP < 0.001 (χ2 = 16.860, df = 1)
dP = 0.001 (χ2 = 10.680, df = 1)
eP < 0.001 (χ2 = 12.530, df = 1)
fFisher’s exact test or Freeman-Halton test
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; IQR, interquartile interval (quartile 1 - quartile 3)