Exposure of client-owned cats to zoonotic vector-borne pathogens: Clinic-pathological alterations and infection risk analysis

•Feline zoonotic Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) are endemic in Italy.•Privately owned indoor cats of Italy are exposed to zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens.•Chemoprevention against ectoparasite is advisable also in indoor cats.•Seropositive cats can either be asymptomatic or show non-specific clinical s...

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Published in:	Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases Vol. 66; p. 101344
Main Authors:	Morelli, Simone, Crisi, Paolo E., Di Cesare, Angela, De Santis, Francesca, Barlaam, Alessandra, Santoprete, Giada, Parrinello, Chiara, Palermo, Simona, Mancini, Pasquale, Traversa, Donato
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2019 Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects:	Abnormalities alanine aminotransferase ALT Animals Antibodies Arthropods aspartate aminotransferase AST Bartonella - pathogenicity Cat Cat Diseases - epidemiology Cat Diseases - microbiology Cat Diseases - transmission cat-scratch disease Cats CBC complete blood count confidence interval CSD Disease transmission Disease Vectors EDTA Ehrlichia canis - pathogenicity Epidemiology ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid Exposure Factor analysis Flea Infestations - transmission gamma glutamyl transferase GGT Health risks IFAT immunofluorescence antibody test Infections Infectious diseases Infestation Italy - epidemiology odds ratio Pathogens Pets Pets - parasitology Rickettsia - pathogenicity Risk analysis Risk Factors SAP serum alkaline phosphatase Statistical analysis VBD vector-borne disease Vector-borne diseases Vectors (Biology) Zoonoses Zoonoses - epidemiology Zoonoses - microbiology Zoonoses - transmission Zoonosis Italy Vector-borne diseases AST SAP OR CBC CI ALT Zoonosis EDTA IFAT CSD GGT Cat VBD cat-scratch disease alanine aminotransferase odds ratio immunofluorescence antibody test vector-borne disease ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid gamma glutamyl transferase serum alkaline phosphatase aspartate aminotransferase complete blood count confidence interval
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Summary:	•Feline zoonotic Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) are endemic in Italy.•Privately owned indoor cats of Italy are exposed to zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens.•Chemoprevention against ectoparasite is advisable also in indoor cats.•Seropositive cats can either be asymptomatic or show non-specific clinical signs.•VBDs should be investigated in cats with unexplained increased liver enzymes. Zoonotic Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) represent a relevant health issue for pets and humans. Italy is a major epidemiological hub for feline VBDs, because of suitable conditions for vector biology and disease transmission patterns. The present study investigated the exposure to major zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens of cats in Italy, along with the evaluation of clinic-pathological features and a risk factor analysis. Out of 167 examined cats, 52 (31.1%) were seropositive for at least one vector-borne pathogen, being positivity for Bartonella henselae the most recorded (18%). Also, various cats seroreacted for Rickettsia felis (10.8%) and Rickettisa typhi (4.2%), Leishmania infantum (3%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (2.4%) and Ehrlichia canis (2.4%). Forty-six cats were tested also for antibodies against D. immitis and two (4.3%) scored positive. The statistical analysis showed a positive association between flea infestation and seropositivity to B. henselae, other than an association between the administration of monthly ectoparasiticide treatments and seronegativity for Rickettsia spp.; seropositive cats were older than negative animals and the lifestyle (i.e. indoor vs outdoor) was not correlated with exposure to vector-borne pathogens. The majority of seropositive cats appeared clinically healthy or showed aspecific clinical signs. Around 80% of seropositive cats had one or more biochemical and/or complete blood count abnormalities. The present data confirm the endemicity of zoonotic feline VBDs in Italy and indicate that awareness on arthropod infections and transmitted pathogens should be kept high and possible implemented, towards the protection of animal and human health with adequate surveillance plans.
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ISSN:	0147-9571 1878-1667
DOI:	10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101344