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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Survey of vector-borne agents in feral cats and first report of Babesia gibsoni in cats on St Kitts, West Indies
BMC Veterinary Research, Volume 13, No. 1, Article 331, Year 2017
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Description
Background: As there is little data on vector-borne diseases of cats in the Caribbean region and even around the world, we tested feral cats from St Kitts by PCR to detect infections with Babesia, Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) and surveyed them for antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii and Ehrlichia canis. Results: Whole blood was collected from apparently healthy feral cats during spay/ neuter campaigns on St Kitts in 2011 (N = 68) and 2014 (N = 52). Sera from the 52 cats from 2014 were used to detect antibodies to Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia rickettsii using indirect fluorescent antibody tests and DNA extracted from whole blood of a total of 119 cats (68 from 2011, and 51 from 2014) was used for PCRs for Babesia, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia. We could not amplify DNA of SFG Rickettsia in any of the samples but found DNA of E. canis in 5% (6/119), Babesia vogeli in 13% (15/119), Babesia gibsoni in 4% (5/119), mixed infections with B. gibsoni and B. vogeli in 3% (3/119), and a poorly characterized Babesia sp. in 1% (1/119). Overall, 10% of the 52 cats we tested by IFA for E. canis were positive while 42% we tested by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) for R. rickettsii antigens were positive. Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence that cats can be infected with B. gibsoni and also indicates that cats in the Caribbean may be commonly exposed to other vector-borne agents including SFGR, E. canis and B. vogeli. Animal health workers should be alerted to the possibility of clinical infections in their patients while public health workers should be alerted to the possibility that zoonotic SFGR are likely circulating in the region. © 2017 The Author(s).
Authors & Co-Authors
Kelly, Patrick John
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre, st Kitts
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Saint Kitts and Nevis
Köster, Liza Sally
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre, st Kitts
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Saint Kitts and Nevis
United Kingdom, Glasgow
Small Animal Hospital
Li, Jing
China, Yangzhou
Yangzhou University
Zhang, Jilei
China, Yangzhou
Yangzhou University
Marchi, Silvia
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre, st Kitts
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Saint Kitts and Nevis
Vandenplas, Michel L.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre, st Kitts
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Saint Kitts and Nevis
Wang, Chengming
United States, Auburn
Auburn University
Statistics
Citations: 23
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/s12917-017-1230-1
ISSN:
17466148
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative