engleski

VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIONS IN CROATIAN CATS: PATHOLOGIC AND MOLECULAR STUDY

Fleas and ticks represent common ectoparasites of cats. However, pathogens which they transmit have not been investigated in Croatian cats. The aim of this study was to investigate vector-borne pathogens from Croatian feline patients and to determine their pathogenicity based on pathologic and molecular findings. The study included 37 cats with gross findings of anemia and/or jaundice submitted for necropsy upon owners request in a period of two years. During necropsy representative tissue samples were collected for histopathology and molecular analyses. Blood, bone marrow, liver, lungs, myocardium and spleen were screened by conventional PCR for presence of Anaplasma/Ehrlichia, Babesia/Theileria, Bartonella, Hepatozoon, Mycoplasma and Rickettsia DNA. All amplified samples were sequenced in both directions and assembled. Cause of death was determined following results of pathologic and molecular investigation. In 25 cats out of 37 investigated (68%) at least one pathogen was detected: Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (64%), Can. M. haemominutum (32%), Babesia canis (16%), Can. M. turicensis (12%), M. haemofelis (8%) and Bartonella clarridgeiae (4%). Hemoplasmas were detected in different organs, while B. canis was detected only in blood and B. clarridgeiae in one liver. Co-infections were found in nine cats (9/25=36%). In three cats (3/25=12% of positive cats and 3/24=13% of cats with hemoplasmas) causes of death were hypoxia and circulatory collapse linked to hemoplasma infection: M. haemofelis infection, Can. M. haemominutum and M. haemofelis co-infection, and Can. M. haemominutum and Can. M. haematoparvum co-infection. In the remaining 23 cats cause of death wasn’t associated with detected pathogens, which raises question of their pathogenicity in these animals. Although vector-borne pathogens are common in Croatian cats, it seems they mostly present incidental findings, but not primary causes of death. However, in minority of animals infected with one or more hemoplasmas, hemolytic anemia can cause death as a consequence of massive erythrocyte destruction.

vector-borne pathogens ; cat ; pathology ; histology ; genotyping ; hemotropic mycoplasma ; Babesia canis ; Bartonella clarridgeiae

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