Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatozoon infection types found in cats across Europe
By Geisen, Vera et al.·Published in Ticks and tick-borne diseases·2026·LMU Small Animal Clinic, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon spp. in cats living in Germany and other European countries.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 58 out of 1357 cats in Germany and other European countries tested positive for Hepatozoon spp., a parasite that can infect cats. Younger cats were more likely to be infected, especially those with a history of travel to Mediterranean countries. The research identified different types of the parasite, with most cases linked to cats imported from places like Greece and Spain. One notable case was a cat in Austria that had no travel history, marking the first local infection in that country. It's important for cat owners to be aware of this parasite, especially if their pets have been outdoors or have traveled.
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Abstract
Hepatozoon spp. are increasingly reported in cats from Mediterranean countries, but data for Central and Northern Europe remain limited. This study investigated the occurrence and molecular diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in 1357 blood samples from cats living in Germany and other European countries using real-time PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Hepatozoon spp. DNA was detected in 58 cats (4.3 %; 95 %-CI: 3.3-5.5 %). Thirty-seven positive samples were further analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing. Four sequence types (A-D) were detected. Hepatozoon felis sequences classified within the genogroup I (types A and B) were identified in 33 cats; Hepatozoon silvestris haplotype I (type C) in one cat; and sequences showing 98.5 % identity to H. silvestris (type D) in three cats. Younger cats had a significantly higher infection risk (p = 0.026), while no association with sex was found. Samples submitted for targeted Hepatozoon testing and travel disease screening showed higher positivity rates. Among the 37 molecularly characterized cases, 31 had a known import origin, primarily from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey. Notably, the H. silvestris-positive cat from Austria had no travel history, representing the first autochthonous case in a domestic cat in Austria. This study highlights the emergence of feline Hepatozoon infections in Europe, involving genetically diverse species. Infections should be considered mainly in cats with Mediterranean origin, travel history, outdoor access, or tick exposure. Identifying vectors responsible for transmission is crucial for implementing effective prevention strategies.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41391424/