Molecular detection of vector-borne agents in cats in Southern Brazil

• Main Authors: Daniela Pedrassani, Juliano Biolchi, Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves, Natalia Serra Mendes, Diego Carlos de Souza Zanatto, Ana Cláudia Calchi, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Marcos Rogério André
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária
• Subjects: Anaplasma; Bartonella; Ehrlichia; Leishmania; Mycoplasma; gato
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612019005018102&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract This study used serological and molecular methods to investigate the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens (VBP) with zoonotic potential in cats neutered at the University Veterinary Hospital in Canoinhas, Santa Catarina. The combined PCR and serological results revealed that 17 (56.6%) cats were positive for one or more pathogens. The sampled cats had antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. (7/30), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3/30) and Leishmania infantum (2/30). The PCR assay detected DNA closely related to Ehrlichia canis in 6/30 cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis in 2/30 cats, A. phagocytophilum and Cytauxzoon sp. in one cat each. While Bartonella clarridgeiae and B. henselae were detected in two cats each, and B. koehlerae was detected in one cat.