Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
First case of Hepatozoon silvestris infection in a New York cat
By Rachel C. Smith et al.·Published in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports·2025·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: First report of Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat (Felis catus) from New York.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat from New York was found to be infected with a parasite called Hepatozoon silvestris, which is typically seen in wild cats. This infection can occur when cats are bitten by blood-feeding insects that carry the parasite. While this case is rare, it shows that domestic cats can also be affected by parasites usually found in wild animals. It's important for pet owners to be aware of this parasite, especially if their cat shows any unusual symptoms or has been exposed to ticks or other insects.
People also search for: cat parasite infection · Hepatozoon silvestris symptoms · why is my cat sick after a tick bite · domestic cat parasites New York
Abstract
Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites that infect a wide variety of animals including felids, with cats serving as the intermediate host and blood-feeding arthropods serving as the definitive hosts. Although three distinct Hepatozoon spp. have been described infecting domestic cats, little is known about the transmission and pathogenicity of feline Hepatozoonosis. Within the United States, numerous reports describe Hepatozoon spp. in wild felids, however, there are only a few reports of Hepatozoon spp. infection in domestic cats. Here, we describe the case of a domestic cat from New York, USA, infected with Hepatozoon silvestris and confirmed by molecular analysis. This report highlights the importance of considering this parasite in veterinary clinical practices and epidemiological studies in domestic cat populations in the country. Hepatozoon silvestris has been previously reported in felids in Central and Eastern Europe. Considering this case and other recent reports of Hepatozoon spp. in wild felids in the USA, it is likely that there are Hepatozoon spp. infecting both wild and domestic felids in the USA which are currently underrecognized.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/40398987