Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy
Vector-borne pathogens are the subject of several investigations due to the zoonotic concern of some of them. However, limited data are available about the simultaneous presence of these pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to define the species of ectoparasite...
| Authors: | ; ; ; ; ; ; |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Publication date: | 2016 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repository: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ddd.uab.cat:254145 |
| Online Access: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/254145 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1534-1 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Vector-borne pathogens Flea Tick Cat |
| _version_ | 1878741472875905024 |
|---|---|
| author | Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia |
| author2 | Solano Gallego, Laia|||0000-0001-8479-4896 Serrano, Lorena Altet Sanahujes, Laura Reale, Stefano Masucci, Marisa|||0000-0001-9893-4554 Pennisi, Maria-Grazia |
| author2_role | author author author author author author |
| author_browse | Altet Sanahujes, Laura Masucci, Marisa|||0000-0001-9893-4554 Pennisi, Maria-Grazia Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia Reale, Stefano Serrano, Lorena Solano Gallego, Laia|||0000-0001-8479-4896 |
| author_facet | Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia Solano Gallego, Laia|||0000-0001-8479-4896 Serrano, Lorena Altet Sanahujes, Laura Reale, Stefano Masucci, Marisa|||0000-0001-9893-4554 Pennisi, Maria-Grazia |
| author_role | author |
| collection | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| description | Vector-borne pathogens are the subject of several investigations due to the zoonotic concern of some of them. However, limited data are available about the simultaneous presence of these pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to define the species of ectoparasites found on cats as well as to investigate vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy. Blood from 42 cats and fleas or flea pools (n = 28) and ticks (n = 73) collected from them were investigated by quantitative PCR for the detection of vector-borne pathogens. Feline serum samples were tested by IFAT to detect IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Babesia microti, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens. Only one flea species (Ctenocephalides felis) and four tick species belonging to the genera Rhipicephalus and Ixodes were identified on cats from southern Italy. Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., hemoplasmas, Babesia vogeli and L. infantum was found in ectoparasites (fleas and/or ticks) while DNA from Hepatozoon felis and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. was not detected. Likewise, DNAs from Bartonella, hemoplasma and Leishmania were the only pathogens amplified from feline blood samples. Cats had also antibodies against all the investigated pathogens with the exception of Rickettsia typhi. Agreement between serological and molecular results in individual cats and their ectoparasites was not found. The only exception was for Bartonella with a fair to moderate agreement between individual cats and their ectoparasites. Bartonella clarridgeiae was the species most frequently found in cats and their fleas followed by B. henselae. In conclusion, cats harboring ticks and fleas are frequently exposed to vector-borne pathogens. Furthermore, ticks and fleas harbored by cats frequently carry pathogens of zoonotic concern therefore appropriate feline ectoparasiticide preventative treatments should be used in cats. |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| format | article |
| id | ES_e5ca562fbdcd3da672ece13012d2dbbf |
| institution | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| instname_str | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| language | eng |
| network_acronym_str | ES |
| network_name_str | España |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:ddd.uab.cat:254145 |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| reponame_str | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| spelling | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia Solano Gallego, Laia|||0000-0001-8479-4896 Serrano, Lorena Altet Sanahujes, Laura Reale, Stefano Masucci, Marisa|||0000-0001-9893-4554 Pennisi, Maria-Grazia Vector-borne pathogens Flea Tick Cat Vector-borne pathogens are the subject of several investigations due to the zoonotic concern of some of them. However, limited data are available about the simultaneous presence of these pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites. The aim of the present study was to define the species of ectoparasites found on cats as well as to investigate vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy. Blood from 42 cats and fleas or flea pools (n = 28) and ticks (n = 73) collected from them were investigated by quantitative PCR for the detection of vector-borne pathogens. Feline serum samples were tested by IFAT to detect IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Babesia microti, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens. Only one flea species (Ctenocephalides felis) and four tick species belonging to the genera Rhipicephalus and Ixodes were identified on cats from southern Italy. Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., hemoplasmas, Babesia vogeli and L. infantum was found in ectoparasites (fleas and/or ticks) while DNA from Hepatozoon felis and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. was not detected. Likewise, DNAs from Bartonella, hemoplasma and Leishmania were the only pathogens amplified from feline blood samples. Cats had also antibodies against all the investigated pathogens with the exception of Rickettsia typhi. Agreement between serological and molecular results in individual cats and their ectoparasites was not found. The only exception was for Bartonella with a fair to moderate agreement between individual cats and their ectoparasites. Bartonella clarridgeiae was the species most frequently found in cats and their fleas followed by B. henselae. In conclusion, cats harboring ticks and fleas are frequently exposed to vector-borne pathogens. Furthermore, ticks and fleas harbored by cats frequently carry pathogens of zoonotic concern therefore appropriate feline ectoparasiticide preventative treatments should be used in cats. https://ddd.uab.cat/record/254145 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1534-1 |
| spellingShingle | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia Vector-borne pathogens Flea Tick Cat |
| title | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| title_full | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| title_short | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| title_sort | Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy |
| topic | Vector-borne pathogens Flea Tick Cat |
| topic_facet | Vector-borne pathogens Flea Tick Cat |
| url | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/254145 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1534-1 |