scholarly journals Frequency of PiroplasmsBabesia microtiandCytauxzoon felisin Stray Cats from Northern Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Spada ◽  
Daniela Proverbio ◽  
Paola Galluzzo ◽  
Roberta Perego ◽  
Giada Bagnagatti De Giorgi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Cytauxzoon Felis ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Good Clinical Condition ◽  
Stray Cat

Emerging diseases caused by piroplasms pose a health risk for man and other animals, and domestic cats have been proposed as potential reservoirs for some piroplasm infections. The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of the piroplasmsBabesia microtiandCytauxzoon felisin stray cats from northern Italy and to identify possible risk factors associated with these infections. Blood samples from 260 stray cats enrolled in a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program in northern Italy were examined with conventional PCR for the presence ofBabesia microtiandCytauxzoon felisDNA. No sample (0.0%) tested positive forC. felis, whilstB. microtiDNA was detected in two samples (0.8%). Both infected cats were in good clinical condition and recovered well from the neutering surgery. One of these two cats had a triple coinfection withBabesia microti,CandidatusMycoplasma haemominutum, andAnaplasma phagocytophilum. Evidence presented in this study indicates that the blood borne protozoansBabesia microtiandCytauxzoon felisare not widely distributed in stray cat populations in Milan, northern Italy, and that the significance of cats as a reservoir host forB. microtiin this area is limited.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Haemoplasma Infections in Stray Cats in Northern Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Spada ◽  
Daniela Proverbio ◽  
Paola Galluzzo ◽  
Alessandra Della Pepa ◽  
Giada Bagnagatti De Giorgi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

This study investigated the prevalence of feline haemoplasma infections in a number of stray cat colonies in Milan, Northern Italy. Blood samples from 260 stray cats were evaluated, with conventional PCR, for the presence of DNA associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” (CMhm). Odd ratios (OR) were calculated to identify risk factors for haemoplasma infections. PCR was positive in 86 out of 260 subjects (33.1%), with a prevalence of 10.8% (28/260 cats) for Mhf and 22.3% (58/260 cats) for CMhm. No coinfections were registered. There were significant associations between infections and season of sampling, that is, a negative association between winter sampling and a haemoplasma positive status (OR=0.29, P=0.001), or CMhm positive status (OR=0.29, P=0.01). Haemoplasma infections are common in stray cats in Milan. Thus, domestic cats with outdoor access should be routinely monitored and treated for ectoparasites to minimize risks of disease acquisition. Moreover, as these infections are transmitted via blood, feline blood donors from this area should be screened by PCR and preferably be drawn from a population of indoor cats regularly treated for fleas.

scholarly journals A pre- and during Pandemic Survey of Sars-Cov-2 Infection in Stray Colony and Shelter Cats from a High Endemic Area of Northern Italy

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 618
Author(s):  
Eva Spada ◽  
Fabrizio Vitale ◽  
Federica Bruno ◽  
Germano Castelli ◽  
Stefano Reale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rectal Swab ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Lombardy Region ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat

Cats are susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Whilst a number of studies have been performed worldwide on owned cats, limited data are available on stray, colony or shelter cats. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection in a stray cat population before and during human outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in cities in the Lombardy region in northern Italy, a high endemic region for SARS-CoV-2, using serological and molecular methods. A cohort of different samples were collected from 241 cats, including frozen archived serum samples from 136 cats collected before the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and serum, pharyngeal and rectal swab samples from 105 cats collected during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. All pre-pandemic samples tested seronegative for antibodies against the nucleocapsid of SARS-CoV-2 using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, while one serum sample collected during the pandemic was seropositive. No serological cross-reactivity was detected between SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and antibodies against feline enteric (FECV) and infectious peritonitis coronavirus (FIPC), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), Feline Parvovirus (FPV), Leishmania infantum, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Toxoplasma gondii or Chlamydophila felis. No pharyngeal or rectal swab tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Our data show that SARS-CoV-2 did infect stray cats in Lombardy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with lower prevalence than found in owned cats. This should alleviate public concerns about stray cats acting as SARS-CoV-2 carriers.

Levels of Ancylostoma infections and phylogenetic analysis of cox 1 gene of A. ceylanicum in stray cat faecal samples from Guangzhou, China

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Hu ◽  
X.G. Yu ◽  
S. Wu ◽  
L.P. Tan ◽  
M.R. Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Pcr Method ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
A Minor

AbstractAncylostoma ceylanicum is a common zoonotic nematode. Cats act as natural reservoirs of the hookworm and are involved in transmitting infection to humans, thus posing a potential risk to public health. The prevalence of feline A. ceylanicum in Guangzhou (South China) was surveyed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In total, 112 faecal samples were examined; 34.8% (39/112) and 43.8% (49/112) samples were positive with hookworms by microscopy and PCR method, respectively. Among them, 40.8% of samples harboured A. ceylanicum. Twelve positive A. ceylanicum samples were selected randomly and used for cox 1 sequence analysis. Sequencing results revealed that they had 97–99% similarity with A. ceylanicumcox 1 gene sequences deposited in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree showed that A. ceylanicum isolates were divided into two groups: one comprising four isolates from Guangzhou (South China), and the other comprising those from Malaysia, Cambodia and Guangzhou. In the latter group, all A. ceylanicum isolates from Guangzhou were clustered into a minor group again. The results indicate that the high prevalence of A. ceylanicum in stray cats in South China poses a potential risk of hookworm transmission from pet cats to humans, and that A. ceylanicum may be a species complex worldwide.

scholarly journals Response to Wolf et al.: Furthering Debate over the Suitability of Trap-Neuter-Return for Stray Cat Management

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Calver ◽  
Heather M. Crawford ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
Poor Welfare

To continue dialogue over proposed Australian trials of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), we applied a framework requiring identification of areas of agreement, areas of disagreement, and identification of empirical data collection required to resolve disagreements. There is agreement that Australia has a problem with stray cats, causing problems of impacts on wildlife, nuisance, disease transmission (including public health issues and exchange of diseases between stray cat and pet cat populations), poor welfare outcomes for stray cats, and an emotional burden on staff euthanising healthy stray cats. There is disagreement on whether (i) current measures are failing, leading to unacceptably high euthanasia levels, (ii) some contributors to the debate misunderstand TNR, (iii) TNR trials will reduce urban cat populations and associated problems, (iv) TNR is an ethical solution to cat overpopulation, and (v) some contributors to the debate promulgated misinformation. Although not everyone agrees that TNR trials should proceed, as a hypothetical exploration, we propose an experimental approach explicitly comparing TNR to alternatives. Trials could only be considered if other detailed and well-funded attempts at stray cat control focusing across an entire Local Government Area (LGA) prove ineffective.

scholarly journals A Case of Letting the Cat out of The Bag—Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (Felis catus) Management

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crawford ◽  
Calver ◽  
Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Community Education ◽  
Urban Wildlife ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Human Habitation ◽  
Stray Cat ◽  
Almost All

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, in which stray cats are captured, neutered and returned to the environment are advocated as a humane, ethical alternative to euthanasia. We review the TNR literature in light of current debate over whether or not there should be further TNR trials in Australia. We revisit the problems arising from stray cats living in association with human habitation and estimate how many stray cats would have to be processed through a scientifically-guided TNR program to avoid high euthanasia rates. We also identify 10 ethical and welfare challenges that have to be addressed: we consider the quality of life for stray cats, where they would live, whether the TNR process itself is stressful, whether TNR cats are vulnerable to injury, parasites and disease, can be medically treated, stray cats’ body condition and diet, and their impacts on people, pet cats, and urban wildlife, especially endemic fauna. We conclude that TNR is unsuitable for Australia in almost all situations because it is unlikely to resolve problems caused by stray cats or meet ethical and welfare challenges. Targeted adoption, early-age desexing, community education initiatives and responsible pet ownership have greater promise to minimize euthanasia, reduce numbers rapidly, and address the identified issues.

scholarly journals Subsidised by junk foods: factors influencing body condition in stray cats (Felis catus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H M Crawford ◽  
M C Calver ◽  
P A Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Public Nuisance ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Stray Cat

Abstract Domestic cats (Felis catus) are one of the most widely distributed and successful carnivores globally. While cats are popular pets, many unowned, ‘stray’ cats live freely in anthropogenic environments at high densities where they make use of anthropogenic resources. These stray cats present a management challenge due to concerns about wildlife predation, pathogen transmission, public nuisance and threats to cat welfare (e.g. vehicle collisions). In Australia, there are few studies of strays compared with pet cats or feral cats (free-roaming cats in rural areas that are independent of resources provided by humans). To contribute original data about stray cat biology, the carcasses of 188 euthanised stray cats were collected from Perth, Western Australia. Cats were assessed for general health, age, reproduction, diet and gastrointestinal parasite biomass. The influence of cat demographics, collection location, season, parasite biomass, diet and history of supplemental feeding by people were tested against body condition. Overall, strays were physically healthy and reproductive, with few life-threatening injuries or macroscopic evidence of disease; however, helminths were extremely common (95% of cats) and pose a threat. Nearly 40% of strays consumed wildlife, including two species of endemic marsupial. Alarmingly, 57.5% of strays were scavenging vast amounts of refuse, including life-threatening items in volumes that blocked their gastrointestinal tracts. These findings illustrate that strays need to be removed from anthropogenic environments for their own health and welfare and to prevent continued breeding. Targeted control programmes should prioritise removal of cats from areas where refuse is common and where valued native fauna exist.

scholarly journals Feline Leishmania spp. Infection in a Non-Endemic Area of Northern Italy

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Spada ◽  
Roberta Perego ◽  
Fabrizio Vitale ◽  
Federica Bruno ◽  
Germano Castelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Area ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Feline Leishmaniosis ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Clinicopathologic Findings ◽  
Hematological And Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Retroviral Infections ◽  
Retrovirus Infection

Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) is an emerging vector-borne feline disease, with increasing numbers of cases reported and studies performed internationally. This study aimed to update the epidemiological status for FeL in stray cats in Milan, northern Italy; compare these results with previous studies in Northern Italy; and report clinicopathologic findings and coinfections in cats infected with Leishmania spp. A total of 117 cats were tested for L. infantum and retrovirus infection, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Demographic and clinical data were collected and FeL affected cats screened for selected coinfections. Overall, 10/117 (8.6%) cats tested positive for L. infantum: in five cats L. infantum DNA was found in popliteal lymph nodes and five were IFAT seropositive at titers from 1:80 to 1:160. Infected cats were concentrated in a specific area of Milan (p = 0.0154). No specific clinicopathologic abnormalities or retroviral infections were significantly linked to the infection, other than hypergammaglobulinemia (p = 0.0127). Seroreactivity to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Chlamydophila felis, and Toxoplasma gondii was found in some infected cats. A high prevalence of FeL was found in a non-endemic area of northern Italy and future studies should continually monitor this data to understand whether these cases are imported or if Leishmania vectors are present in this area.

Host contributions to the force of Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti transmission differ at edges of and within a small habitat patch

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi K. Goethert ◽  
Sam R. Telford
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Habitat Patch ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Spatial Risk

In the northeastern United States, the emergence of Lyme disease has been associated, in part, with the increase of small forest patches. Such disturbed habitat is exploited by generalist species, such as white-footed mice, which are considered the host with the greatest reservoir capacity for the agents of Lyme disease ( Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto) and human babesiosis ( Babesia microti ). Spatial risk analyses have identified edge habitat as particularly risky. Using a retrotransposon-based quantitative PCR assay for host bloodmeal remnant identification, we directly measured whether the hosts upon which vector ticks fed differed at the edge or within the contiguous small habitat patch. Questing nymphal deer ticks, Ixodes dammini , the northern clade of Ixodes scapularis , were collected from either the edge or within a thicket on Nantucket Island over 3 transmission seasons and tested for evidence of infection as well as bloodmeal hosts. Tick bloodmeal hosts significantly differed by site as well as by year. Mice and deer were identified most often (49.9%), but shrews, rabbits and birds were also common. Ticks from the edge fed on a greater diversity of hosts than those from the thicket. Surprisingly, mice were not strongly associated with either infection at either sampling site (OR<2 for all). Although shrews were not the most common host utilized by ticks, they were highly associated with both infections at both sites (OR= 4.5 and 7.9 B. burgdorferi and 7.9 and 19.0 B. microti , edge and thicket). We conclude that reservoir hosts may differ in their contributions to infecting ticks between edge and contiguous vegetated patches. Importance Habitat fragmentation is thought to be a main factor in the emergence of Lyme disease and other of the deer tick-transmitted infections. The patchwork of forest and edges promotes altered biodiversity, favoring the abundance of generalist rodents such as white footed mice, heretofore considered a key tick and reservoir host in the northeastern U.S. We used tick bloodmeal analyses to directly identify the hosts from which nymphal deer ticks became infected. We demonstrate that there is considerable microfocality in host contributions to the cohort of infected ticks and that shrews, although they fed fewer ticks than mice, disproportionately influenced the force of pathogen transmission in our site. The venue of transmission of certain deer tick-transmitted agents may comprise a habitat scale of 10 meters or fewer and depend on alternative small mammal hosts such as shrews.

scholarly journals Vertical Transmission: A Vector-Independent Transmission Pathway of Babesia microti in the Natural Reservoir Host Peromyscus leucopus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M Tufts ◽  
Maria A Diuk-Wasser
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Natural Reservoir ◽  
Generation Offspring

Abstract Background Babesia microti, a malaria-like pathogen, is increasing in mammal and human populations in endemic areas and is unlikely to be the sole result of horizontal pathogen transmission. Methods Peromyscus leucopus mice, natural reservoir hosts, were infected via Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Infected parental females (n = 6) produced F1 offspring (n = 36) that were screened for B. microti using quantitative PCR. Xenodiagnostic larvae were fed on infected offspring to determine horizontal transmission and pathogen viability. Fifty engorged larvae were screened; the rest were allowed to molt and then screened to determine transstadial transmission. Infected F1 generation offspring were placed in breeding groups, producing 34 F2 offspring and screened for B. microti infection. Chronic infection was monitored in parental females since time of initial vector infection. Results Vertical transmission of B. microti was 74% efficient in offspring born in the first 6 months. Horizontal transmission occurred in larvae (61% prevalence) and molted nymphs (58% prevalence); these nymphs were able to infect susceptible hosts. F2 generation offspring infection prevalence was 38%. Chronic infection persisted for 1 year in some adults. Conclusions These results demonstrate that vertical transmission is an important nonvector-mediated pathway of B. microti transmission in the natural reservoir host.

Radio-Tracking Survey of Stray Cat Home Range in a Suburban Area: Non-Exclusive Use of Home Ranges in Stray Cats (Felis catus)

Mammal Study ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Soo Kim ◽  
Jong-U Kim ◽  
Jong-Hoon Jeon ◽  
Jong Koo Lee ◽  
Woo-Shin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Suburban Area ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Stray Cats ◽  
Stray Cat
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