意大利出现的猫类媒介传播病原体。
Emerging feline vector-borne pathogens in Italy.
机构信息
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Vector-borne Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
出版信息
Parasit Vectors. 2019 May 2;12(1):193. doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3409-8.
BACKGROUND
The epidemiology of feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) has been less investigated in cats than in dogs. The present study assessed the prevalence of Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp. and Leishmania infantum infections in cat populations living in central Italy, by molecular and serological tools.
RESULTS
A total of 286 healthy cats were randomly selected from catteries and colonies in central Italy. Peripheral blood and conjunctival swab (CS) samples were collected during surgical procedures for regional neutering projects. Sera were analysed by IFAT to detect anti-Rickettsia felis, R. conorii, Babesia microti and Leishmania IgG antibodies using commercial and home-made antigens. DNA extracted from buffy coats (BCs) was tested for Rickettsia spp., and Piroplasmida species, including Cytauxzoon spp. and Babesia spp. by PCR. Buffy coats and CS samples were assayed by a nested (n)-PCR for Leishmania spp. Sixty-two cats (21.67%) were seropositive to at least one of the tested pathogens. The serological assay revealed 23 (8.04%) and 18 (6.29%) positive cats for R. felis and R. conorii, respectively, with low titers (1/64-1/128). No antibodies against B. microti were detected. Neither Rickettsia nor Piroplasmida DNA were amplified using the specific PCR assays. Thirty-one cats (10.83%) tested positive to anti-Leishmania IgG, with titers ranging from 1:40 to 1:160 and 45 animals (15.73%) tested positive to Leishmania CS n-PCR, whereas none of the animals tested positive to BC n-PCR. Considering the results obtained by IFAT and CS n-PCR, a moderate agreement between the two tests was detected (κ = 0.27).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the serological and molecular surveys showed a moderate exposure to Leishmania in the investigated cats and highlighted the limited molecular diagnostic value of BC versus CS samples for this pathogen. Conversely no evidence supported the circulation of Cytauxzoon spp. in domestic cats, in contrast with previous detections in European wild cats in the same areas monitored. The low positive titres for R. felis in association with no DNA BC amplification prevent speculation on the exposure of feline populations to this FeVBP due to the cross-reactivity existing within spotted fever group rickettsiosis (SFGR).
背景
与犬相比，猫类的媒介传播病原体（FeVBP）的流行病学研究较少。本研究通过分子和血清学工具评估了生活在意大利中部的猫群中感染立克次体 spp.、巴贝斯虫 spp.、细胞球虫 spp. 和利什曼原虫的流行率。
结果
从意大利中部的饲养场和聚居地随机选择了 286 只健康猫。在区域性绝育项目的手术过程中采集外周血和结膜拭子（CS）样本。使用商业和自制抗原通过间接免疫荧光测定法（IFAT）分析血清，以检测抗猫立克次体、康氏立克次体、巴贝斯虫微孢子虫和利什曼原虫 IgG 抗体。从血涂片（BCs）中提取 DNA，通过 PCR 检测立克次体 spp. 和巴贝斯虫 spp. 等血孢子虫科物种。通过巢式（n）-PCR 检测 CS 样本和 BCs 样本，以检测利什曼原虫 spp.。62 只猫（21.67%）对至少一种检测到的病原体呈血清阳性。血清学检测显示，分别有 23 只（8.04%）和 18 只（6.29%）猫对猫立克次体和康氏立克次体呈阳性，滴度较低（1/64-1/128）。未检测到抗巴贝斯虫微孢子虫的抗体。使用特异性 PCR 检测未扩增到立克次体或血孢子虫科 DNA。31 只猫（10.83%）对利什曼原虫 IgG 呈阳性，滴度范围为 1:40 至 1:160，45 只动物（15.73%）对利什曼原虫 CS n-PCR 呈阳性，而对 BC n-PCR 检测呈阴性。考虑到 IFAT 和 CS n-PCR 的结果，两种检测方法之间存在中度一致性（κ=0.27）。
结论
血清学和分子调查的结果表明，在所研究的猫中存在中度利什曼原虫暴露，并强调了与 CS 样本相比，BC 样本对该病原体的分子诊断价值有限。相反，没有证据支持细胞球虫 spp. 在家猫中的传播，这与在同一监测地区监测到的欧洲野生猫中以前的检测结果相反。猫立克次体 felis 的低阳性滴度与 BC 无 DNA 扩增相结合，由于斑点热群立克次体病（SFGR）中存在的交叉反应性，使人们无法推测猫种群是否接触过这种 FeVBP。
Zotero 插件