Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ()

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

  • Daniela Pedrassani,
  • Juliano Biolchi,
  • Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves,
  • Natalia Serra Mendes,
  • Diego Carlos de Souza Zanatto,
  • Ana Cláudia Calchi,
  • Rosangela Zacarias Machado,
  • Marcos Rogério André

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612019077

Abstract

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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.

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