Article
Microbiology
Barbara Tuska-Szalay, Sandor A. Boldogh, Robert Farkas, Luca Rompos, Nora Takacs, Viktor Beresnyak, Adam Izso, Jeno Kontschan, Jozsef Lanszki, Sandor Hornok
Summary: Among vector-borne protozoa, Hepatozoon felis and Cytauxzoon europaeus are emerging species in felids in Europe. This study investigated the presence of these two protozoa in domestic cats and wildcats in Hungary, and found that H. felis genogroup II can emerge in free-roaming domestic cats in regions where this protozoan parasite is endemic in wildcats.
Article
Parasitology
Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Marivi Martinez, Ard M. Nijhof, Bastian Gerst, Michaela Gentil, Elisabeth Mueller, Antonio Fernandez, Ana Gonzalez, Mohamed Sh. Mohamud Yusuf, Grazia Greco, Maite Verde, Giovanni Sgroi, Delia Lacasta, Diana Marteles, Michele Trotta, Ingo Schaefer
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in stray cats in Zaragoza, Spain, and identified potential risk factors for infection. The findings revealed the presence of various VBP infections in stray cats and emphasized the importance of regular monitoring to prevent and manage potential zoonotic diseases.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Onur Ceylan, Xuenan Xuan, Ferda Sevinc
Summary: Ticks in Turkey pose a significant challenge to animal production due to the endemic parasitic diseases they carry, including theileriosis, babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, cytauxzoonosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. These diseases have a major impact on the economy and animal health, especially for ruminants, and are controlled primarily through treatment and tick control measures.
Article
Microbiology
Kimberly J. Ledger, Lorenza Beati, Samantha M. Wisely
Summary: This study aimed to describe the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in different land use types in southern Africa. Through molecular techniques, 1716 ticks were screened for infection, revealing multiple pathogen species across seven tick species collected. The findings suggest that tick species and the pathogens they carry may vary according to land use, highlighting the importance of comprehensive surveillance in understanding the diversity and ecology of tick-borne pathogens.
Article
Immunology
Pabasara Weerarathne, Rebekah Maker, Chaoqun Huang, Brianne Taylor, Shannon R. Cowan, Julia Hyatt, Miruthula Tamil Selvan, Shoroq Shatnawi, Jennifer E. Thomas, James H. Meinkoth, Ruth Scimeca, Adam Birkenheuer, Lin Liu, Mason V. Reichard, Craig A. Miller
Summary: Cytauxzoonosis is a disease caused by C. felis, a parasite transmitted by ticks, that can cause severe illness in domestic cats in the United States. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent this deadly disease due to difficulties in culturing the parasite in vitro.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
A. Salpietro, M. Fusco, M. C. Mercuri, S. Sestito, L. Oreto, G. F. Parisi, G. Ceravolo, F. Borgia, R. De Sarro, I Ceravolo, R. Chimenz, C. Cuppari
Summary: Tick-borne diseases are increasing, with various clinical conditions and symptoms similar to common childhood illnesses. Identifying exposure location, rash features, and tick vectors can help in disease recognition, treatment, and prevention.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mustafa Necati Muz, Serkan Erat, Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu
Summary: Domestic cats in Tekirdag are highly susceptible to some neglected zoonotic diseases, and their prevalence in the region is likely underestimated. Utilizing PCR tests for rapid diagnosis may be an efficient option to protect both the public and cats from severe diseases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guo-Ping Zhao, Yi-Xing Wang, Zheng-Wei Fan, Yang Ji, Ming-jin Liu, Wen-Hui Zhang, Xin-Lou Li, Shi-Xia Zhou, Hao Li, Song Liang, Wei Liu, Yang Yang, Li-Qun Fang
Summary: Understanding the ecological niches of major tick species and prevalent tick-borne pathogens is crucial for efficient surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases. The study in China reveals that Haemaphysalis longicornis harbors the highest variety of tick-borne agents among various tick species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marika Grillini, Paola Beraldo, Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono, Giorgia Dotto, Cinzia Tessarin, Giovanni Franzo, Erica Marchiori, David Modry, Giulia Simonato
Summary: This study developed a fast and cost-saving real-time PCR method to detect Cytauxzoon and Hepatozoon parasites in felids in northeastern Italy. The results showed that Hepatozoon felis was commonly found in domestic cats, while Hepatozoon silvestris and Cytauxzoon europaeus were mainly found in wildcats.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Haijun Hu, Zhanbin Liu, Renlong Fu, Yangqing Liu, Hongmei Ma, Weiqing Zheng
Summary: This study investigated the positivity rates of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in humans, rodents, dogs, goats, and ticks in Jiangxi province, China. The results showed a high positivity rate of TBPs, with multiple TBPs being detected in some samples. Notably, the first report of Rickettsia japonica infection in goats worldwide was found. These findings highlight the urgent need to assess the risk of tick-borne disease exposure.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mennat-Allah Abdelsalam, Wael Felefel, Sabreen Fadl, Mohamed Bessat
Summary: This study provides the first molecular evidence of Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma infections in sheep and goat populations in the North Coast region of Egypt. 73% of the samples were found to be infected with at least one of the three blood pathogenic organisms through microscopic examination. 43% of the small ruminants were infected with at least one of these pathogens according to molecular diagnosis.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Oliwier Teodorowski, Marcin Kalinowski, Dagmara Winiarczyk, Radoslaw Janecki, Stanislaw Winiarczyk, Lukasz Adaszek
Summary: The study conducted molecular surveillance of piroplasmosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis, and Lyme borreliosis in horses from Poland. The results showed a relatively low prevalence of these diseases, but the need for consideration in differential diagnosis of related symptoms.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Natalie Rudenko, Maryna Golovchenko
Summary: The causative agents of infectious diseases can be transmitted through various routes, with factors such as climate change and host migration potentially affecting disease prevalence. Additional research is needed to confirm or refute the potential role of sexual transmission in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sambor Grygorczuk, Justyna Dunaj-Malyszko, Piotr Czupryna, Artur Sulik, Kacper Toczylowski, Agnieszka Siemieniako-Werszko, Agnieszka Zebrowska, Slawomir Pancewicz, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: This study found that the detection of TBEV RNA in plasma may have diagnostic significance in the peripheral phase of TBE. The absence of TBEV RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid suggests a relatively low intrathecal viral burden.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Na Zhao, Kai Pan, Zhongqiu Teng, Hongliang Wang, Xue Zhang, Hongyu Ren, Lei Yi, Jia He, Kun Cai, Tian Qin
Summary: This study found that ticks in Yingshan county of Hubei province, China carried various species of pathogens, with Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks having the highest diversity of pathogens. Therefore, effective control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the County is necessary.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Sandra Lapsina, Martina Stirn, Marilisa Novacco, Claudia Cueni, Marina L. Meli, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Barbara Riond
VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
John M. Hoppe, Louise U. Fueessl, Katrin Hartmann, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Alexander Graf, Stefan Krebs, Helmut Blum, Irina Badell, Oliver T. Keppler, Maximilian Muenchhoff
Summary: This study reports a case of a COVID-19 patient who discovered that his dog exhibited respiratory symptoms shortly before his own infection. The dog tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and genomic sequencing revealed two separate lineages of the virus in both the dog and the patient's samples. The timeline suggests dog-to-human transmission, although direct transmission is highly unlikely due to the genetic distance between the dog and the patient.
Article
Virology
Evelyn Kuhlmeier, Tatjana Chan, Cecilia Valenzuela Agui, Barbara Willi, Aline Wolfensberger, Christian Beisel, Ivan Topolsky, Niko Beerenwinkel, Tanja Stadler, Sarah Jones, Grace Tyson, Margaret J. Hosie, Katja Reitt, Julia Huttl, Marina L. Meli, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Summary: This study aims to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals in close contact with COVID-19-positive owners, with a focus on the Delta variant. The results show that 11 cats and 3 dogs in 9 COVID-19-positive households tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. NGS data identified SNPs in the viral sequences of companion animals that occur at a higher frequency than in viral sequences of humans, as well as SNPs exclusively found in the animals investigated in this study.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Nadja S. Sieber-Ruckstuhl, Livia Harburger, Natalie Hofer, Claudia Kummerle, Claudia Mueller, Barbara Riond, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Claudia E. Reusch, Felicitas S. Boretti
Summary: This study described 11 cats with primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) and focused on long-term treatment. The study found that the doses of desoxycorticosterone pivalate and prednisolone used in cats were higher than what is currently used in dogs. Furthermore, adrenal glands smaller than 2.7 mm on ultrasonography can be suggestive of PH.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Johanna Rompf, Bianca Hettlich, Berenice Lutz, Eliane Marti, Jelena Mirkovitch, Laureen Peters, Katja-Nicole Adamik, Gertraud Schupbach-Regula, Barbara Willi, Simone Schuller
Summary: This study analyzed the kinetics of plasma procalcitonin (PCT) in healthy dogs and dogs with canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). The results showed that CCL rupture as well as anesthesia, arthroscopy, and TPLO do not affect pPCT concentrations in dogs with uncomplicated recovery. Individual serial measurements should be considered due to the high intraindividual variability.
VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Mark E. Westman, Juliana Giselbrecht, Jacqueline M. Norris, Richard Malik, Jennifer Green, Elle Burton-Bradley, Ashley Cheang, Theres Meili, Marina L. Meli, Katrin Hartmann, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Summary: This study evaluated the field performance of a new rapid point-of-care test kit in determining different feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection outcomes, as well as its performance in detecting feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection status. The results showed that the test kit was unable to accurately determine different FeLV infection outcomes in field samples and improvements are needed.
Article
Virology
Sandra Felten, Ute Klein-Richers, Stefan Unterer, Michele Bergmann, Yury Zablotski, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Katrin Hartmann
Summary: This study aimed to describe the shedding patterns of feline coronavirus (FCoV) in catteries and analyze risk factors for high-intensity shedding or non-shedding. The proportion of high-intensity shedders and non-shedding cats was higher than previously reported, possibly due to housing conditions, genetic susceptibility, or differences in the study period. Certain breeds had a higher risk of high-intensity shedding, and individual hygiene procedures may have influenced FCoV shedding frequency. Smaller group sizes were protective against FCoV shedding.
Article
Virology
Evelyn Kuhlmeier, Tatjana Chan, Marina L. Meli, Barbara Willi, Aline Wolfensberger, Katja Reitt, Julia Huttl, Sarah Jones, Grace Tyson, Margaret J. Hosie, Yury Zablotski, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Summary: A higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals from Swiss COVID-19 households was found, with 21.7% of animals testing positive. Factors such as outdoor access and hygiene practices were significantly associated with infection rates in cats. The study highlights the importance of monitoring and identifying risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 in companion animals.
Article
Cell Biology
Sophia Jenni, Odette Ludwig-Peisker, Vidhya Jagannathan, Sandra Lapsina, Martina Stirn, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Nikolay Bogdanov, Nelli Schetle, Urs Giger, Tosso Leeb, Anna Bogdanova
Summary: This study describes the clinical, pathophysiological, and molecular genetic features of a cat with hereditary methemoglobinemia. Genetic analyses revealed a single homozygous base exchange in the CYB5R3 gene, resulting in a splice defect and expression of two mutant CYB5R3 transcripts. The affected cat showed characteristics such as increased red blood cell fragility and deformability, glutathione overload, and morphological alterations typical for stress erythropoiesis associated with methemoglobinemia.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Katharina Zwicklbauer, Daniela Krentz, Michele Bergmann, Sandra Felten, Roswitha Dorsch, Andrea Fischer, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Marina L. Meli, Andrea M. Spiri, Martin Alberer, Laura Kolberg, Kaspar Matiasek, Yury Zablotski, Ulrich von Both, Katrin Hartmann
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome in cats successfully treated with GS-441524 for FIP. The results showed that the treatment was effective in both short-term and long-term, with no relapse during the 1-year follow-up.
JOURNAL OF FELINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2023)
Review
Virology
Severine Tasker, Diane D. Addie, Herman Egberink, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Margaret J. Hosie, Uwe Truyen, Sandor Belak, Corine Boucraut-Baralon, Tadeusz Frymus, Albert Lloret, Fulvio Marsilio, Maria Grazia Pennisi, Etienne Thiry, Karin Moestl, Katrin Hartmann
Summary: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a common virus in cats that is primarily transmitted faeco-orally. While most infections do not cause clinical signs, a small proportion of infected cats develop feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is most frequently seen in cats under two years old. Cats with FIP typically present with fever, anorexia, weight loss, and effusions.
Review
Virology
Maria Grazia Pennisi, Sandor Belak, Severine Tasker, Diane D. Addie, Corine Boucraut-Baralon, Herman Egberink, Tadeusz Frymus, Katrin Hartmann, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Albert Lloret, Fulvio Marsilio, Etienne Thiry, Uwe Truyen, Karin Moestl, Margaret J. Hosie
Summary: Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a virus associated with feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has a worldwide distribution. The genetic diversity of FeMV is extensive, but its clinical relevance is still unknown. There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between FeMV infection and renal disease. Higher viral loads are found in urine and are associated with renal TIN lesions.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sandra Kampf, Simone Fenk, Ankie Van Cromvoirt, Nikolay Bogdanov, Sonja Hartnack, Martina Stirn, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Iris Margaret Reichler, Anna Bogdanova
Summary: This study compared selected blood parameters between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs, aiming to explore the possibility of developing a blood test for grading the severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in the future. The results showed that brachycephalic dogs exhibited alterations in blood cells and metabolism, including higher reticulocyte counts, abundance of immature reticulocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and lower levels of intracellular reduced glutathione, as well as increased plasma lactate. These findings may serve as potential objective indicators for BOAS.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)