Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 35158

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
2. Interdepartmental Research Center “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: veterinary medicine; veterinary microbiology; veterinary diagnostics; veterinary public health; zoonotic diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the most popular pet species worldwide, cats are often in close contact with children and adults. Despite being submitted to regular controls by veterinarians, they may contract infectious and parasitic pathogens, leading to mild to severe clinical forms of disease. When pet cats are affected by zoonotic pathogens, they become an important source of infection for their owners, particularly immunocompromised persons, such as elderly people, children, pregnant women, and people with pathologies.

Stray cat populations play an important role in the transmission of several pathogens. They can contaminate the environment with their secretions and excreta, which may infect other cats as well as other animal species and humans. Moreover, stray and domestic cats may harbor hematophagous arthropods, which serve as vector of blood-related pathogens.

This Special Issue of Animals aims to collect and disseminate some of the most significant and recent research regarding infectious and parasitic diseases of cats. Authors are invited to submit relevant research studies and review articles about zoonotic diseases.

Dr. Valentina Virginia Ebani
Prof. Dr. Francesca Mancianti
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cats
  • bacterial diseases
  • viral diseases
  • parasitic diseases
  • mycotic diseases
  • zoonoses
  • one-health

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 257 KiB  
Article
Serological Survey on the Occurrence of Rickettsia spp., Neospora caninum, Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii in Cats from Tuscany (Central Italy)
by Valentina Virginia Ebani, Simona Nardoni, Michela Maestrini, Stefania Perrucci and Francesca Mancianti
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1842; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061842 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2443
Abstract
Asymptomatic cats often harbor pathogens, some of which have not been largely investigated in feline populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibodies against Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Neospora caninum, Bartonella henselae [...] Read more.
Asymptomatic cats often harbor pathogens, some of which have not been largely investigated in feline populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibodies against Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Neospora caninum, Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Tuscany. Ninety-five blood serum samples, previously collected, were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Fifty-six (58.94%) cats had antibodies to at least one investigated pathogen: 28 (29.47%) cats were positive for B. henselae, 17 (17.89%) for R. felis, 14 (14.73%) for R. conorii, 14 (14.73%) for T. gondii, 2 (2.1%) for N. caninum. No cats were positive for R. typhi. Positive reactions to two or more pathogens were detected in 18 (18.94%) cats. The occurrence of antibodies against these microorganisms suggests that cats, even though asymptomatic, may be infected by pathogens, often zoonotic, and thus may be a source of infections for other animals and humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
9 pages, 633 KiB  
Article
Leukocytes Ratios in Feline Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Sepsis: A Retrospective Analysis of 209 Cases
by Eleonora Gori, Alessio Pierini, Ilaria Lippi, George Lubas and Veronica Marchetti
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061644 - 1 Jun 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5381
Abstract
Sepsis is a challenging condition in which hematological prognostic and diagnostic markers in cats are limited. The aims of this study were to test if there are any differences in leukocyte ratios (NLR, BLR and BNLR) between healthy, SIRS and septic cats (sick [...] Read more.
Sepsis is a challenging condition in which hematological prognostic and diagnostic markers in cats are limited. The aims of this study were to test if there are any differences in leukocyte ratios (NLR, BLR and BNLR) between healthy, SIRS and septic cats (sick cats), and if, within sick cats, NLR, BLR and BNLR may be prognostic markers. A retrospective medical database study included 76 healthy cats (blood-donors), 54 SIRS and 79 septic cats. SIRS group was defined if cats fulfilled SIRS criteria. Sepsis was confirmed with an infectious focus on cytology or a positive culture for bacterial infection. Leukocyte ratios were compared among the three study groups and between survivors and non-survivors in sick cats. NLR resulted significantly higher in the sick group compared to healthy cats (p < 0.0001), although NLR was not different between SIRS and sepsis. An NLR > 4.53 had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 93.4% to detect SIRS/sepsis (OR 44.8 95%CI 17–107). Only BLR and BNLR were significantly different between SIRS and sepsis. NLR was associated with mortality in the sick group (p = 0.04). Although NLR resulted higher in sick cats than healthy, BLR and BNLR demonstrated as promising tools in differentiating SIRS from sepsis. NLR was associated with mortality in sick cats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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16 pages, 955 KiB  
Article
Arthropod-Borne Pathogens in Stray Cats from Northern Italy: A Serological and Molecular Survey
by Valentina Virginia Ebani, Lisa Guardone, Federica Marra, Iolanda Altomonte, Simona Nardoni and Francesca Mancianti
Animals 2020, 10(12), 2334; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122334 - 8 Dec 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2893
Abstract
Cats may be affected by a wide range of arthropod-borne pathogens (ABPs) of medical and veterinary interest. Between February 2018 and October 2019, 85 blood samples were collected from stray cats from the Emilia Romagna region (northern Italy). Ticks (n = 28) [...] Read more.
Cats may be affected by a wide range of arthropod-borne pathogens (ABPs) of medical and veterinary interest. Between February 2018 and October 2019, 85 blood samples were collected from stray cats from the Emilia Romagna region (northern Italy). Ticks (n = 28) on the examined cats were also collected. Serological and molecular methods were applied to search for infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella henselae, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia canis, Leishmania spp., Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Cytauxzoon spp. A total of 71 sera (83.5%) had antibodies to at least one investigated pathogen: 39 (45.9%) were positive for B. henselae, 32 (37.6%) positive for C. burnetii, 12 (14.1%) positive for E. canis, four (4.7%) positive for A. phagocytophilum, and two (2.4%) positive for Leishmania spp. A total of 47 (55.3%) DNA samples were positive by PCR for at least one investigated pathogen: 25 (29.4%) were positive for C. burnetii, 23 (27.1%) positive for B. henselae, two (2.4%) positive for E. canis, five (5.9%) positive for Leishmania spp., and two (2.4%) positive for Cytauxzoon spp. Coinfections were observed in 21 cats (24.7%). No positivity was found for A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., or Hepatozoon spp. All ticks were negative. A widespread presence of ABPs in the investigated area of northern Italy was shown. Accurate information on their prevalence may be relevant for feline veterinary medicine, as well as from a One Health perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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11 pages, 4239 KiB  
Article
Fatal Pulmonary Hypertension and Right-Sided Congestive Heart Failure in a Kitten Infected with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus
by Tommaso Vezzosi, Stefania Perrucci, Francesca Parisi, Simone Morelli, Michela Maestrini, Giulia Mennuni, Donato Traversa and Alessandro Poli
Animals 2020, 10(12), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122263 - 1 Dec 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4536
Abstract
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is considered the most important respiratory nematode of domestic cats worldwide. This parasite inhabits the alveoli, alveolar ducts, and bronchioles and causes a subacute to chronic respiratory clinical disease. Clinical signs may occur in domestic cats of any age, though they [...] Read more.
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is considered the most important respiratory nematode of domestic cats worldwide. This parasite inhabits the alveoli, alveolar ducts, and bronchioles and causes a subacute to chronic respiratory clinical disease. Clinical signs may occur in domestic cats of any age, though they are more often described in young animals. Physical examination, echocardiography, thoracic radiography, pulmonary and cardiac pathological findings, classical, and molecular parasitological analysis of a six-month-old kitten referred at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Pisa (Italy) led to a diagnosis of parasitic bronchopneumonia caused by A. abstrusus, which was complicated by severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right-sided congestive heart failure (R-CHF) that caused the death of the animal. Cases of reversible PH associated with A. abstrusus infection have been seldom reported in cats. This is the first report of fatal PH and R-CHF in a kitten with clinical aelurostrongylosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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14 pages, 768 KiB  
Article
Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
by Esperanza Gomez-Lucia, Victorio M. Collado, Guadalupe Miró, Sonsoles Martín, Laura Benítez and Ana Doménech
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1464; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091464 - 20 Aug 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7181
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two of the most important pathogens of cats, produce chronic systemic diseases with progressive death of cells involved in the immune response, ultimately leading to death. Immunostimulants is one of the few alternatives to [...] Read more.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two of the most important pathogens of cats, produce chronic systemic diseases with progressive death of cells involved in the immune response, ultimately leading to death. Immunostimulants is one of the few alternatives to the symptomatic treatment. In this study, 27 naturally FeLV-infected (FeLV+) and 31 naturally FIV-infected (FIV+) cats were administered orally by their owners 60 IU/day of recombinant human interferon alpha (rHuIFN-α) for four months in alternate weeks. Clinical status was evaluated and blood samples collected at four different visits or months (M): pretreatment (M0), mid-treatment (M2), end of treatment (M4), and 4–8 months after end of treatment (M10). Most cats ostensibly improved their clinical status, and many became asymptomatic. rHuIFN-α treatment improved the anemic processes observed at M0 (at least in cats with mild or moderate anemia) and leukocyte counts, including a more favorable CD4+/CD8+ ratio. An increase in the serum gammaglobulin concentration was seen in 80% of the cats. Despite observing an obvious favorable progress in the clinical, biopathological, and CD4+/CD8+ values during treatment, almost invariably all the parameters analyzed worsened after treatment discontinuation (M10), which suggests that the interferon-α protocol should be either extended or include additional cycles for a long-lasting benefit in FeLV+ and FIV+ cats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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16 pages, 5611 KiB  
Article
Molecular Detection of Gurltia paralysans by Semi-Nested PCR in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Samples from Domestic Cats (Felis catus)
by Freddy López-Contreras, Lisbeth Rojas-Barón, Marcelo Gómez, Francisco Morera, Paulina Sepúlveda, Manuel Moroni, Pamela Muñoz, Gerardo Acosta-Jammett, Marcelo Mieres, Jörg Hirzmann, Carlos Hermosilla and Anja Taubert
Animals 2020, 10(7), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071169 - 9 Jul 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3937
Abstract
Gurltia paralysans is an angio-neurotropic metastrongyloid nematode that infects domestic and wild cats, invading the veins of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord and mainly causing progressive paralysis of the pelvic limbs. The definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can only be achieved [...] Read more.
Gurltia paralysans is an angio-neurotropic metastrongyloid nematode that infects domestic and wild cats, invading the veins of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord and mainly causing progressive paralysis of the pelvic limbs. The definitive diagnosis of feline gurltiosis can only be achieved by post-mortem examination that reveals the presence of the nematode in the spinal cord vein vasculature. An early diagnosis with conclusive results is required since laboratory and imaging findings are not sufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to detect the presence of G. paralysans, via semi-nested PCR, in samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the sera of domestic cats naturally infected with the parasite. A total of 12 cats with a diagnosis suggestive of feline gurltiosis were selected, and they underwent a complete neurological and imaging examination. DNA samples were analysed by semi-nested PCR, with universal (AaGp28Sa1/AaGp28Ss1) and specific (Gp28Sa3/Aa28Ss2) primers, for G. paralysans (G. paralysans 18S rRNA gene, partial sequence; ITS 1, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS 2, complete sequence; and 28S rRNA gene, partial sequence) and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, obtaining amplifications of 356 and 300 bp, which indicated the presence or absence of nematode DNA, respectively. The presence of G. paralysans was detected in the CSF of four out of nine cats, and the sera of seven out of seven cats. In the sera analysis of five out of seven cats, a mixed infection with A. abstrusus was found, despite no alterations of the respiratory tract being observed during the necropsies. It is proposed that serum samples could be more effective than CSF in detecting the parasite by PCR analysis. Sequencing analysis showed high percentages of identity with G. paralysans, which indicated the feasibility of detection and the sensitivity/specificity of the method used, suggesting the implementation of semi-nested PCR as a routine diagnostic test for early and timely detection of feline gurltiosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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15 pages, 1399 KiB  
Article
Early Renal Involvement in Cats with Natural Feline Morbillivirus Infection
by Paolo Emidio Crisi, Francesco Dondi, Eliana De Luca, Morena Di Tommaso, Kateryna Vasylyeva, Enea Ferlizza, Giovanni Savini, Alessia Luciani, Daniela Malatesta, Alessio Lorusso and Andrea Boari
Animals 2020, 10(5), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10050828 - 10 May 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3719
Abstract
Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a newly discovered paramyxovirus infecting domestic cats and its role in the pathogenesis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been suggested, however not confirmed. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the renal damage associated with [...] Read more.
Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a newly discovered paramyxovirus infecting domestic cats and its role in the pathogenesis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been suggested, however not confirmed. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the renal damage associated with FeMV infection in cats. In this retrospective study, clinical and clinicopathological data were compared among 14 FeMV naturally infected, 21 CKD and 22 healthy cats. FeMV positive cats had serum chemistry analytes and main urine chemistry results similar to the healthy subjects. FeMV positive cats had significantly decreased urine specific gravity (median 1054, range 1022–1065) and urine creatinine (median 227.23 mg/dL, range 83.02–489.75) when compared with healthy cats (median 1067, range 1040–1080, p < 0.001; median 406.50 mg/dL, range 195.32–575.58; p < 0.001, respectively). Urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) results of FeMV and CKD were not different (median 0.20, range 0.08–1.03; median 0.23, range 0.10–0.80, respectively), however UPC results were significantly increased in both groups, if compared with healthy cats (median 0.1, range 0.04–0.250, p < 0.01). Based on clinical data, serum creatinine concentration, urine specific gravity and UPC results, CKD was suspected by clinicians in 3/14 FeMV cats. Urine protein sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in 10/13 (77%) FeMV cats indicated a tubular pattern, with a decrease of uromodulin and an increase in the number and intensity of low molecular weight proteins. FeMV infection can be associated with different grades of renal dysfunction ranging from mild tubular proteinuria with less concentrated urine to azotemia in cats younger than those typically affected by CKD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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16 pages, 319 KiB  
Article
Feline Leishmania spp. Infection in a Non-Endemic Area of Northern Italy
by Eva Spada, Roberta Perego, Fabrizio Vitale, Federica Bruno, Germano Castelli, Gaia Tarantola, Luciana Baggiani, Sonia Magistrelli and Daniela Proverbio
Animals 2020, 10(5), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10050817 - 8 May 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2881
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Cats)
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