Bacterial and protozoal agents of feline vector-borne diseases in domestic and stray cats from southern Portugal

Abstract

BackgroundFeline vector-borne diseases (FVBD) have emerged in recent years, showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global prevalence. In addition to their veterinary importance, domestic cats play a central role in the transmission cycles of some FVBD agents by acting as reservoirs and sentinels, a circumstance that requires a One Health approach. The aim of the present work was to molecularly detect feline vector-borne bacteria and protozoa with veterinary and zoonotic importance, and to assess associated risk factors in cats from southern Portugal.MethodsSix hundred and forty-nine cats (320 domestic and 329 stray), from veterinary medical centres and animal shelters in southern Portugal, were studied. Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Hepatozoon spp. and Leishmania spp. infections were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood samples.ResultsOne hundred and ninety-four (29.9%) cats were PCR-positive to at least one of the tested genera or complex of FVBD agents. Sixty-four (9.9%) cats were positive to Leishmania spp., 56 (8.6%) to Hepatozoon spp., 43 (6.6%) to Babesia spp., 35 (5.4%) to Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., 19 (2.9%) to Bartonella spp. and 14 (2.2%) to B. burgdorferi s.l. Thirty-three (5.1%) cats were positive to two (n = 29) or three (n = 4) genera/complex. Babesia vogeli, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon felis and Leishmania infantum were identified by DNA sequencing.ConclusionsThe occurrence of FVBD agents in southern Portugal, some of them with zoonotic character, emphasizes the need to alert the veterinary community, owners and public health authorities for the risk of infection. Control measures should be implemented to prevent the infection of cats, other vertebrate hosts and people.

SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF EXPOSURE TO Ehrlichia canis IN CATS

“…We found the same association comparing seropositivity in cats (present study) and dogs (20) at matching geographic location. Related epidemiological profile between cats and dogs was also found in Central Italy (22) and Portugal (16,26,27) . This association suggests once more that the major factor implicated in ehrlichiosis prevalence is that associated to the vector biology in a tick-free environment rather than host factors, including host species (28) .…”

“…It is known that clinical cases of ehrlichiosis in these animals are not common (8) . This aspect suggests that the felines might act as potential asymptomatic reservoirs and sentinels of E. canis and other vectorborne agents (16,33) .…”

“…has been described in wild and domestic felids in various regions of the world, through hematoscopy, serology, and molecular techniques, feline ehrlichiosis being caused especially by E. canis (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) . However, most surveys regarding E. canis occur in dogs and the reports about its occurrence in cats still remain scarce (4) .…”

Investigação molecular de Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos

“…Em gatos domésticos, já foi documentada a infecção natural e experimental por Ehrlichia spp. (Almosny 1998, Little 2010, Ebani & Bertelloni 2014, Maia et al 2014) e assume-se que as alterações clínicas e laboratoriais nessa espécie sejam semelhantes às que ocorrem em cães (Almosny 1998, Little 2010, Braga et al 2013. Braga et al (2013) encontraram anemia, trombocitopenia e linfopenia nos gatos positivos na PCR para E. canis.…”

First report on optimization of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the diagnosis of Babesia felis

“…Conventional PCR: PCR Amplification was also performed from extracted DNA as described previously by Maia et al (2014) using the following primer set and amplification conditions: PIRO-A: 52 -AAT ACC CAA TCC TGA CACAGG G-32 PIRO-B: 52 -TTA AAT ACG AAT GCC CCCAAC-32…”