Frequency of Piroplasms<i>Babesia microti</i>and<i>Cytauxzoon felis</i>in Stray Cats from Northern Italy

Spada, Eva; Proverbio, Daniela; Galluzzo, Paola; Perego, Roberta; Giorgi, Giada Bagnagatti De; Roggero, Nora; Caracappa, Santo

doi:10.1155/2014/943754

Cited by 28 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The lack of Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. in cats tested was concordant with previous studies, where no DNA was amplified from animals living in southern Italy [11,15,18], and with only one cat positive for A. phagocytophilum in the north of the country [46]. Conversely, antibody prevalence of up to 26.9% for A. phagocytophilum and 16.2% for E. canis was recorded in stray and/or outdoor cats from central and southern Italy [11,18,21].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

et al. 2020

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Background: Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) have been increasingly investigated for their impact on cat health and their zoonotic potential. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of FeVBPs and haemoplasmas in cats across Italy and to identify potential risk factors linked to their occurrence. Methods: Blood samples from 958 owned cats living in the North (n = 556), Centre (n = 173) and South (n = 229) of Italy were tested for Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and filarioids by conventional PCR (cPCR) and for haemoplasmas and Bartonella spp. by SYBR green real-time PCR. Cats included in the study represent a sub-sample from a larger number of animals enrolled in a previous study, which were selected based on the geographical origin. Data on cats' positivity for Leishmania infantum, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), available from the previous study, were included and examined. Potential risk factors for pathogen infection were assessed in relationship to categorical variables including sex, geographical origin, breed, neutering status and age of cats. Results: Out of the 958 cats, 194 (20.2%) were positive for at least one of the tested pathogens, 89 (16%) from the North, 32 (18.5%) from the Centre and 73 (31.9%) from the South of Italy. A high prevalence of FeVBPs was detected in male cats (n = 125, 27.8%), living in the southern part of the country (n = 73, 31.9%), younger than 18 months of age (n = 24, 22.4%) and not neutered (n = 39; 27.5%). In particular, 24 cats (2.5%) tested PCR-positive for Bartonella spp., of which 1.6% for B. henselae and 0.9% for B. clarridgeiae. A total of 111 cats scored PCR-positive for haemoplasmas (11.6%), specifically "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (n = 95, 9.9%), M. haemofelis (n = 14, 1.5%) and "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" (n = 2, 0.2%). Moreover, 39, 31 and 8 cats were positive for FeLV (4.1%), L. infantum (3.2%) and FIV (0.8%), respectively. Co-infections were registered for 19 (9.8%) cats. Conclusions: These results confirm the occurrence of haemoplasmas and FeVBPs throughout Italy. Preventive measures to protect both animal and human health should be carried out also for owned cats, even if no health status of animals has been assessed in this study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The absence of Hepatozoon and Babesia in cats tested might be a consequence of a non-exposure to infected ticks. This result was expected, even if Babesia microti has been previously detected by serology (20.3%) and molecularly (0.8%) in southern [11,18] and northern Italy [46], respectively. No infection with other Babesia spp.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

et al. 2020

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“…In a survey of stray cats in Milan, Italy, two (0.8%) of 260 cats tested positive for B. microti DNA using conventional PCR (46). Both cats were healthy.…”

Section: Babesia Microtimentioning

confidence: 99%

Babesia Species of Domestic Cats: Molecular Characterization Has Opened Pandora's Box

Penzhorn

Oosthuizen

2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

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This is the first comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to Babesia species reported from domestic cats. Description of the four species (Babesia felis, Babesia cati, Babesia herpailuri, and Babesia pantherae) named based on morphology and/or host specificity is documented. Feline babesiosis is of major veterinary concern only in South Africa. Reports of the rare occurrence of feline babesiosis cases in Europe (France, Germany, Poland, and Spain) and Asia (Israel, India, and Pakistan) are documented. Molecular characterization has revealed that cats can harbor a variety of Babesia species. The previous practice of referring to all piroplasms, especially small ones, seen on feline blood smears as B. felis is therefore no longer tenable. The near-full-length 18S rRNA gene sequences entered into GenBank in 2001 (accession no. AF244912) are designated as definitive for B. felis sensu stricto. All published literature relating to molecular characterization of feline Babesia species that could be traced was critically assessed. Four Babesia species are now known to be involved in causing feline babesiosis in South Africa: the closely related B. felis s.s. and Babesia leo (clade I), Babesia lengau (clade II), and Babesia species cat Western Cape (clade VI, Babesia s.s.). Clade VI also includes Babesia canis presentii and Babesia hongkongensis reported from cats in Asia. Six other Babesia species have been reported from domestic cats: the dog-associated B. canis s.s., Babesia gibsoni, and B. vogeli, as well as Babesia lohae, Babesia microti, and Babesia vulpes. Phylogenetic relationships of all named species were assessed and are presented as trees. The relatively high prevalence of B. vogeli in clinically healthy cats (16% in Brazil, 13% on St Kitts, and 8.1% in Portugal) suggests that immunocompetent cats can harbor the infection with no discernible untoward effects. Reports of occurrence of B. felis and other Babesia species in domestic cats should be accepted only if they are supported by credible molecular provenance.

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“…A PCR pode auxiliar ainda na diferenciação de patógenos que podem ter morfologia semelhantes a de Cytauxzoon spp., haja vista que patógenos do gênero Babesia spp. (Spada et al, 2014;André et al, 2014;Malheiros et al, 2016) e Theileria spp. (André et al, 2014;André et al, 2015) já foram detectados em gatos domésticos.…”

Section: Diagnóstico Laboratorial E Achados Patológicosunclassified

Infecção por Cytauxzoon spp. em felinos domésticos

et al. 2019

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Cytauxzoon spp. são piroplasmas hemoparasitos que parasitam espécimes da família Felidae. A cytauxzoonose é uma enfermidade caracterizada principalmente por sinais clínicos inespecíficos e súbitos. Tem como reservatórios os felídeos silvestres, no entanto já existem relatos de parasitemia crônica em felinos domésticos. A transmissão ocorre principalmente por vetores como carrapatos na América do Norte; já na América do Sul, Europa e Ásia os vetores são ainda desconhecidos. A patogenia decorre da fase de esquizogonia do parasito em macrófagos que causa obstrução de vasos sanguíneos. O tratamento é baseado nos cuidados de suporte e a combinação terapêutica de atovaquona associada à azitromicina tem demonstrando bons resultados. A profilaxia consiste na restrição do acesso de gatos domésticos em áreas arborizadas que possuam a presença de carrapatos e no uso de repelentes-acaricidas. Com esta revisão de literatura, objetivou-se analisar os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e patológicos que permitam subsidiar o médico veterinário atuar com rapidez em casos suspeitos de cytauxzoonose.

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Frequency of PiroplasmsBabesia microtiandCytauxzoon felisin Stray Cats from Northern Italy

Cited by 28 publications

References 24 publications

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

Babesia Species of Domestic Cats: Molecular Characterization Has Opened Pandora's Box

Infecção por Cytauxzoon spp. em felinos domésticos

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