Cats are not small dogs: is there an immunological explanation for why cats are less affected by arthropod-borne disease than dogs?

Abstract

It is widely recognized that cats appear to be less frequently affected by arthropod-borne infectious diseases than dogs and share fewer zoonotic pathogens with man. This impression is supported by the relative lack of scientific publications related to feline vector-borne infections. This review explores the possible reasons for the difference between the two most common small companion animal species, including the hypothesis that cats might have a genetically-determined immunological resistance to arthropod vectors or the microparasites they transmit. A number of simple possibilities might account for the lower prevalence of these diseases in cats, including factors related to the lifestyle and behaviour of the cat, lesser spend on preventative healthcare for cats and reduced opportunities for research funding for these animals. The dog and cat have substantially similar immune system components, but differences in immune function might in part account for the markedly distinct prevalence and clinicopathological appearance of autoimmune, allergic, idiopathic inflammatory, immunodeficiency, neoplastic and infectious diseases in the two species. Cats have greater genetic diversity than dogs with much lower linkage disequilibrium in feline compared with canine breed groups. Immune function is intrinsically related to the nature of the intestinal microbiome and subtle differences between the canine and feline microbial populations might also impact on immune function and disease resistance. The reasons for the apparent lesser susceptibility of cats to arthropod-borne infectious diseases are likely to be complex, but warrant further investigation.

Infection by Mycoplasma spp., feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus in cats from an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis

“…Additionally, the research community that focuses on FVBDs is smaller than that which studies CVBDs. Finally, it is suggested that diseases in cats are diagnosed less frequently, since cats are not taken for veterinary consultation as often as dogs [ 6 ]. Even with the introduction of molecular techniques, since prevalence data for FVBDs are scarce, veterinarians sometimes may not consider the possibility of occurrence of those diseases [ 33 ].…”

“…All of the present cats were negative for the tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) species Ehrlichia and Babesia , similar to previous studies [ 22 ]. There are many hypotheses to explain why cats may be less prone to arthropod-borne diseases, including their grooming behavior that could remove ticks before pathogen transmission, and a natural, genetically controlled immunological resistance to arthropods and the microorganisms they may transmit [ 6 ].…”

“…Although cats are exposed to arthropod parasites, their lifestyle habits may be a limiting factor for transmission of arthropod-borne pathogens, particularly those transmitted by ticks, compared with dogs [ 6 ]. In some regions of Brazil, cats are infested by ticks, such as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato ) [ 7 – 10 ], and thus may be infected with the pathogens they may transmit.…”

Vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in cats

“…This impression is supported by the relative lack of scientific researches related to feline VBDs comparing to the number of publications about dogs. One of the reasons of the difference in the prevalence of canine and feline vector-borne diseases is that cats have natural resistance to the arthropods and the pathogens they transmit (Wikel, 2013; Kazimirova, Stibraniova, 2013; Day, 2016). Another reason is veterinary attention.…”

“…In addition, the research community that focuses on feline VBDs is smaller and less funded, so there is less research material on this subject. All the above-mentioned factors may be the reason for a smaller amount of knowledge about feline VBDs (Day, 2016).…”