Molecular and serological survey of carnivore pathogens in free-roaming
domestic cats of rural communities in southern Chile

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Abstract

Owned, free-roaming domestic cats are abundant in the Chilean countryside, having high probability of contact with wildlife and potentially participating as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. In the present study, 131 cats from two remote study areas (Valdivia and Chiloe Island) in southern Chile were analyzed for infection/exposure to eight pathogens. Serum samples from 112 cats were tested for antigens against feline leukemia virus (FeLV antigen-ELISA) and antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV-ELISA) and canine distemper virus (CDV-serum neutralization), yielded occurrence of 8.9, 1.7 and 0.8% respectively. The presence of DNA of five vector-borne pathogens, piroplasmids, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. was investigated in thirty cats. Overall observed occurrence was 6.6 % (2/30) for both Anaplasma platys, and B. henselae, and 3.3% (1/30) for both Bartonella sp. and Theileria equi. Observed occurrence for all vector-borne pathogens in Valdivia area was significantly higher than in Chiloe Island (5/15 vs 0/15; P=0.04). Our results represent the first description of exposure to CDV and DNA detection of T. equi and A. platys in domestic cats in Chile. The results highlight the importance of performing pathogen screening in owned, free-roaming rural cats to evaluate their potential role as reservoirs of infection and vectors for disease transmission to wildlife.

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Most cited references 66

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Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and 'HGE agent' as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila.

J Dumler, A F Barbet, C Bekker … (2001)

The genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Cowdria, Neorickettsia and Wolbachia encompass a group of obligate intracellular bacteria that reside in vacuoles of eukaryotic cells and were previously placed in taxa based upon morphological, ecological, epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Recent genetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes, groESL and surface protein genes have indicated that the existing taxa designations are flawed. All 16S rRNA gene and groESL sequences deposited in GenBank prior to 2000 and selected sequences deposited thereafter were aligned and phylogenetic trees and bootstrap values were calculated using the neighbour-joining method and compared with trees generated with maximum-probability, maximum-likelihood, majority-rule consensus and parsimony methods. Supported by bootstrap probabilities of at least 54%, 16S rRNA gene comparisons consistently clustered to yield four distinct clades characterized roughly as Anaplasma (including the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group, Ehrlichia platys and Ehrlichia bovis) with a minimum of 96.1% similarity, Ehrlichia (including Cowdria ruminantium) with a minimum of 97.7% similarity, Wolbachia with a minimum of 95.6% similarity and Neorickettsia (including Ehrlichia sennetsu and Ehrlichia risticii) with a minimum of 94.9% similarity. Maximum similarity between clades ranged from 87.1 to 94.9%. Insufficient differences existed among E. phagocytophila, Ehrlichia equi and the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent to support separate species designations, and this group was at least 98.2% similar to any Anaplasma species. These 16S rRNA gene analyses are strongly supported by similar groESL clades, as well as biological and antigenic characteristics. It is proposed that all members of the tribes Ehrlichieae and Wolbachieae be transferred to the family Anaplasmataceae and that the tribe structure of the family Rickettsiaceae be eliminated. The genus Anaplasma should be emended to include Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophila comb. nov. (which also encompasses the former E. equi and the HGE agent), Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) bovis comb. nov. and Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) platys comb. nov., the genus Ehrlichia should be emended to include Ehrlichia (Cowdria) ruminantium comb. nov. and the genus Neorickettsia should be emended to include Neorickettsia (Ehrlichia) risticii comb. nov. and Neorickettsia (Ehrlichia) sennetsu comb. nov.

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Advantages of real-time PCR assay for diagnosis and monitoring of canine leishmaniosis.

X Roura, Ismael Rodriguez, Laura Altet … (2006)

The aim of the present study is to highlight the advantages of real-time quantitative PCR intended to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of canine leishmaniosis. Diagnosis of canine leishmaniosis is extremely challenging, especially in endemic areas, due to the diverse and non-specific clinical manifestations, and due to the high seroprevalence rate in sub-clinical dogs. Veterinarian clinicians are usually confronted with cases that are compatible with the disease, and with several diagnostic tests, sometimes with contradictory results. We have developed a new TaqMan assay, targeting the kinetoplast, applied to 44 samples of bone marrow aspirate or peripheral blood. The dynamic range of detection of Leishmania DNA was established in 7 logs and the limit of detection is 0.001 parasites in the PCR reaction. At the time of diagnosis parasitemia ranges from less than 1 to 10(7)parasites/ml. The ability to quantify the parasite burden allowed: (i) to elucidate the status of positive dogs by conventional PCR, although larger studies are necessary to clarify the dividing line between infection and disease, (ii) to estimate the kinetics of the parasite load and the different response to the treatment in a follow-up and (iii) to validate blood as less invasive sample for qPCR. The continuous data provided by real-time qPCR could solve the dilemma for the clinician managing cases of canine leishmaniosis by differentiating between Leishmania-infected dogs or dogs with active disease of leishmaniosis.

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Bartonellosis: an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic importance to animals and human beings.

G. Maggi, Bruno Chomel, M Lappin … (2010)

To provide a review of clinically relevant observations related to Bartonella species as emerging pathogens in veterinary and human medicine. Literature as cited in PubMed and as generated by each of the authors who have contributed to various aspects of the clinical understanding of bartonellosis. Important historical and recent publications illustrating the evolving role of animal reservoirs as a source of human infection. Comprehensive review of the veterinary literature. In addition to inducing life-threatening illnesses, such as endocarditis, myocarditis, and meningoencephalitis and contributing to chronic debilitating disease, such as arthritis, osteomyelitis, and granulomatous inflammation in cats, dogs, and potentially other animal species; pets and wildlife species can serve as persistently infected reservoir hosts for the transmission of Bartonella spp. infection to veterinary professionals and others with direct animal contact.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Vet Med Sci

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Vet. Med. Sci

Journal ID (publisher-id): JVMS

Title: The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

Publisher: The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science

ISSN (Print): 0916-7250

ISSN (Electronic): 1347-7439

Publication date (Electronic): 15 October 2019

Publication date (Print): December 2019

Volume: 81

Issue: 12

Pages: 1740-1748

Affiliations

[1) ]PhD Programe in Conservation Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile

[2) ]Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

[3) ]Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Avda. Santa Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile

[4) ]Department of Conservation and Research, Buin Zoo, Panamericana Sur Km 32, Buin, Chile

[5) ]Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad San Sebastián, Patagonia Campus, Lago Panguipulli 1390, Puerto Montt, Chile

[6) ]Center of Biodiversity Conservation Chiloé Silvestre, Ancud, 5710000, Chile

[7) ]Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile

[8) ]Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

[9) ]Laboratory of Molecular Ecology, Department of Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

[10) ]Department of Biological Sciences and Biodiversity, Universidad de Los Lagos, Av. Fuchslocher 1305, Osorno, Chile

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence to: Napolitano, C.: cnapolit@ 123456uchile.cl , Sacristán, I.: isacristan.vet@ 123456gmail.com

Article

Publisher ID: 19-0208

DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0208

PMC ID: 6943315

PubMed ID: 31611482

SO-VID: d1fd2208-a854-4525-a1c4-4434f1546c8d

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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) License. (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Molecular and serological survey of carnivore pathogens in free-roaming domestic cats of rural communities in southern Chile

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Most cited references 66

Advantages of real-time PCR assay for diagnosis and monitoring of canine leishmaniosis.

Bartonellosis: an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic importance to animals and human beings.

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