Molecular detection of a Hepatozoon species in stray cats from a feline colony in North-eastern Spain

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) 2008-07, Vol.177 (1), p.134-135
• Main Authors: Ortuño, A., Castellà, J., Criado-Fornelio, A., Buling, A., Barba-Carretero, J.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal communities; Animals; Animals, Wild; Base Sequence; cat diseases; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Coccidia - genetics; Coccidia - isolation & purification; coccidiosis; Coccidiosis - diagnosis; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - parasitology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; disease detection; disease diagnosis; disease prevalence; disease surveillance; DNA Primers; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Ectoparasites; epidemiological studies; Female; feral animals; Gene Amplification; Hepatozoon; Hepatozoon spp; Male; molecular epidemiology; pathogen identification; PCR; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; ribosomal RNA; risk assessment; RNA, Protozoan - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; sequence analysis; Spain - epidemiology; Stray cats; urban areas; veterinary parasitology
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.04.009

Within the framework of a local animal health programme, the presence of ectoparasites and haemoparasites was investigated in a colony of 25 cats in Barcelona. Diagnosis was performed both by standard parasitological procedures and molecular techniques. All cats were negative to haematozoan infection by microscopic examination of blood smears. However, Hepatozoon spp. was found in four cats as shown by amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. Cat isolates were 100% identical to the isolate Hepatozoon spp. (Spain 2) from Southern Spain. This is the first time that Hepatozoon spp. has been identified in cats from Northern Spain.