Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece

Diakou, Αnastasia; Cesare, Angela Di; Accettura, Paolo Matteo; Barros, Luciano Antunes; Iorio, Raffaella; Paoletti, Barbara; Regalbono, Antonio Frangipane di; Halos, Lénaïg; Beugnet, Frédéric; Traversa, Donato

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335

Cited by 56 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…The results point to the possible importance of this zoonotic disease. The 33.1% frequency obtained here is comparable to the 31.8% reported for several provinces in Canada; and in a lower proportion to 24% of Athens Greece; 26% in Oklajoma, USA; 26% in Lancashire, England; 44.4% in Denmark; 5.4% Finland [1,[24][25][26][27][28]. The frequencies increase in studies carried out in populations of street cats 38.1% of Lisbon, Portugal and up to 78% in Azarshahr of East Azerbaijan, Iran [18,29].…”

Section: /4supporting

confidence: 76%

“…Its epidemiological clinical importance lies in the fact that its main transmission mechanism involves the profuse contamination of the soil with fecal matter that evacuates two of the pets that closely coexist with the human being, the cat and the dog. Toxocariasis is caused by the intestinal helminths of the dog and the cat Toxocaracanis and Toxocaracati, respectively [1][2][3]. Both animals are infected by different mechanisms such as: ingestion of embryonated eggs, migration through the placenta of larvae that have remained in the tissues of the mother, ingestion of larvae present in breast milk and the consumption of paratenic hosts with the infective larvae [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Presence of zoonotichelminths in cats (Feliscatus) of condominiums in City of Mexico with special concern to Toxocara cati infection

Martı́nez-Barbabosa¹,

Lastra²,

Pérez³

et al. 2018

Methods Microbiol Mol Biol

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Section: /4supporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presence of zoonotichelminths in cats (Feliscatus) of condominiums in City of Mexico with special concern to Toxocara cati infection

Martı́nez-Barbabosa¹,

Lastra²,

Pérez³

et al. 2018

Methods Microbiol Mol Biol

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“…The presence of several L. infantum-positive dogs in all study sites is explained by its wide distribution in Southern Europe [57], including Greece where mean seropositivity is around 20% [5, 6]. This high infection pressure is shown also by the recent records of infection in cats from Crete and Athens [9] and by the more than 300 autochthonous human cases reported in 2005-2010 according the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention [6]. The zoonotic potential of L. infantum in humans is of great importance, as the disease may be severe and presents with visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous signs [58].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Diakou

Cesare

Morelli

et al. 2018

Preprint

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29The present study investigated the presence of endo-and ecto-parasites, and vector-borne pathogens, 30 in dogs from four islands of Greece. A total of 200 owned and sheltered dogs were examined with 31 different microscopic, serological and molecular methods. 32Of the examined dogs, 130 (65%) were positive for one or more parasites and/or vector-borne 33 pathogens. The most common zoonotic intestinal helminths recorded were Ancylostomatidae 34 (12.5%) and Toxocara canis (3.5%). Ninety-three dogs (46.5%) seroreacted to Rickettsia conorii. 35 Twenty-two (11%) of them were also PCR positive and 7 (3.5%) showed corpuscoles suggestive of 36 Rickettsia spp. on the blood smears. Nineteen dogs (9.5%) were seropositive for Ehrlichia canis, three 37 of them being also PCR positive. Dogs positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum-Anaplasma platys 38 (1%), Dirofilaria immitis (0.5%) and Babesia canis (0.5%) were also found. Fleas and ticks were 39 recorded in 53 (26.5%) and 50 (25%) dogs and all specimens were identified as Ctenocephalides felis 40 felis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu latu. Binary multiple univariate Generalized Linear Models 41 were used to investigate factors and clinical signs related to the recorded positivity, while the 42 association of specific signs with the pathogens was evaluated using tests of independence. 43 Knowledge of occurrence and impact of zoonotic parasites and vector-borne pathogens in dog 44 populations is crucial to prevent the infection in animals and people, and to control the risk of 45 spreading of these pathogens in endemic and non-endemic areas. 46 47 Author summary 48 Both owned and sheltered dogs can harbor a variety of intestinal and extra-intestinal endoparasites, 49as well as vector-borne pathogens and ectoparasites, of zoonotic concern. Dog shelters and stray dogs 50 are present in several touristic areas of Greece, including Sporades and Cyclades islands, where 51 tourists often bring their pets with them, likely travelling from non-endemic to endemic areas. The 52 present study has been carried out with the aim to evaluate the occurrence of the aforementioned 53 pathogens. Data obtained showed that they are present in canine populations of Greece, with 54 possibilities of infection for travelling dogs, which can also contribute to the spreading of zoonotic 55 vector-borne diseases, introducing new pathogens in previously non-endemic areas. For these 56 reasons, a constant monitoring of the epidemiological situation, improving control measures and 57 correct diagnostic approaches are of primary importance for the prevention of canine and human 58 infections, decreasing the spreading of potentially deadly pathogens. 59 60 61 62 65circulation of zoonotic infections are difficult to control. Because of a lifestyle that implies a low-66 grade of sanitary management, stray and free-roaming dogs are at high risk of becoming infected with 67 a wide range of pathogens. Consequently, they act as a permanent source of infection for vectors, 68 other animals an...

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“…However, blood transfusion could be a source of infection in cats as it is proven in dogs and humans. In endemic areas healthy cats − similarly to healthy dogs and humans − can be found positive at blood PCR (Pennisi et al, 2015b;Can et al, 2016;Persichetti et al, 2016;Attipa et al, 2017;Akhtardanesh et al, 2017;Brianti et al, 2017;Diakou et al, 2017;Metzdorf et al, 2017;Otranto et al, 2017).…”

Section: Etiology Diffusion and Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feline leishmaniosis: Is the cat a small dog?

Pennisi¹,

Persichetti

2018

Veterinary Parasitology

135

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Leishmania infantum is a vector-borne zoonotic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and dogs are considered the main reservoir of the parasite. Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) caused by L. infantum is an emergent feline disease more and more frequently reported in endemic areas. This review summarizes current knowledge focusing similarities and differences with canine leishmaniosis (CanL). Cats are infected by the same Leishmania species than dogs but prevalence of the infection is lower and cases of disease are less frequently reported. Scarce information is available on adaptive immune response of cats naturally exposed to L. infantum infection and mechanisms responsible for susceptibility or resistance of feline hosts. However, about half of clinical cases of FeL are reported in cats with possible impaired immunocompetence. Coinfections or comorbidities are frequently detected in sick cats and they can contribute to a misrepresentation of clinical FeL albeit lesions associated with the presence of the parasite have been detected in skin, lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, liver, oral mucosa, stomach, large bowel, kidney, nasal exudate, lung, eye. As for dogs, skin or mucocutaneous lesions are the most common reason for veterinary consultation and finding on physical examination in cats with leishmaniosis. Molecular investigations of Leishmania DNA and anti- Leishmania antibody detection are largely used with the same methodologies for both CanL and FeL, however few information is available about their diagnostic performance in feline hosts. Treatment of cats with clinical FeL is still empirically based and off label by using the most common drugs prescribed to dogs. Life expectancy of cats with clinical FeL is usually good unless concurrent conditions or complications occur and prognosis does not seem significantly influenced by therapy or retroviral coinfection. According to current knowledge, cats can play a role as additional reservoir host of L. infantum and, in a « One Health » perspective, preventative measures should be taken. In conclusion, albeit feline infection and the associated cat disease caused by L. infantum is increasingly reported in endemic areas and have many similarities with CanL, consolidated evidence-based knowledge is not available and we cannot exclude that important differences between dogs and cats exist about transmission, immunopathogenesis and best practice for management and prevention.

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Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece

Cited by 56 publications

References 49 publications

Presence of zoonotichelminths in cats (Feliscatus) of condominiums in City of Mexico with special concern to Toxocara cati infection

Presence of zoonotichelminths in cats (Feliscatus) of condominiums in City of Mexico with special concern to Toxocara cati infection

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Feline leishmaniosis: Is the cat a small dog?

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