Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne infections found in cats and parasites in southern Italy
By Persichetti, Maria-Flaminia et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2016·Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia Adelmo Mirri, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that cats in southern Italy often have fleas and ticks that can carry harmful germs. Blood tests showed that many of these cats had been exposed to diseases like Bartonella and Leishmania, which can also affect humans. The researchers identified one type of flea and several types of ticks on the cats, and they discovered that the fleas and ticks often carried the same germs found in the cats' blood. To keep your cat safe from these diseases, it's important to use flea and tick prevention treatments regularly.
People also search for: cat fleas ticks diseases · how to prevent cat tick bites · Bartonella in cats treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27160725/