Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Genetic differences in Cytauxzoon felis from cats
By Pollard, Dana A et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2017·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Genetic variability of cloned Cytauxzoon felis ribosomal RNA ITS1 and ITS2 genomic regions from domestic cats with varied clinical outcomes from five states.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of domestic cats from five states was studied to understand the genetic differences in a tick-borne parasite called Cytauxzoon felis, which can cause serious illness. While this infection was once thought to be almost always fatal, some cats have been found to survive or carry the parasite without showing symptoms. Researchers discovered various genetic strains of the parasite in the blood samples of these cats, indicating a wide range of genetic diversity. However, they found no clear link between the genetic types and the severity of the disease or the geographic location of the cats.
People also search for: cat Cytauxzoon felis symptoms · tick-borne disease in cats · how to treat Cytauxzoon felis in cats
Abstract
Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-borne hemoparasite that causes cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats in the United States. Historically, feline cytauxzoonosis was reported to be nearly always fatal. However, increasing evidence of cats surviving acute infection and/or harboring a chronic, subclinical infection has suggested the existence of different C. felis strains that may vary in pathogenicity. In this study, the intraspecific variation of the C. felis first and second ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, ITS2) regions was assessed for any clinical outcome or geographic associations. Sequence data were obtained for 122C. felis ITS1 and ITS2 clones from 41 domestic cat blood samples from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Seven previously reported ITS1 region sequences were found, and a previously undescribed 23-bp insert was detected in cloned ITS1 sequences from a domestic cat in Missouri and two cats in Oklahoma. Four previously reported ITS2 region sequences were identified, and a 40-bp insert similar to that previously reported in C. felis of a domestic cat from Arkansas and pumas was detected in 18 cloned C. felis sequences from 12 domestic cats. One clone contained both the 23-bp insert and 40-bp insert within the ITS1 and ITS2 regions, respectively. Combined ITS1 and ITS2 sequence genotypes revealed that C. felis sequences from 27 cats (72/122 clones) corresponded to four previously described genotypes, ITSa, ITSc, ITSd, and ITSn. Five clones with the novel 23-bp insert from three cat isolates represented two new genotypes, ITSaa and ITSbb. Genotypes ITScc, ITSdd, ITSee, ITSff, ITSgg, and ITShh denoted 13 clones that matched prior sequences but had no previously assigned genotype. Genotypes ITSii through ITStt comprised 32 clones that were similar to, but did not exactly match, previously described genotypes. Twenty-five cats had C. felis infections with multiple ITS genotypes. Considerable C. felis genetic diversity was revealed with no significant geographic or clinical outcome associations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28917305/