Publication Database

Retrospective evaluation of vector-borne infections in cats living in Germany (2012-2020) (2021)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Schäfer, Ingo

Kohn, Barbara (WE 20)

Volkmann, Maria (WE 20)

Müller, Elisabeth

Kongress

29th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Parasitology

digital, 15. – 17.03.2021

Quelle

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://programm.conventus.de/index.php?id=dgp2021&tx_coprogramm_programm%5Baction%5D=index&tx_coprogramm_programm%5Bcontroller%5D=Search&cHash=78d3ab876b3e7fb1f4bb50cd9cfe44c5

Kontakt

Klein- und Heimtierklinik

Oertzenweg 19 b
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62422
kleintierklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Background:
Vector-borne infections are gaining significance due to increasing travel, import of pets and climatic changes within Europe. The main objective was to assess the prevalence of several feline vector-borne infections as well as to establish the history of stays abroad of the tested cats.

Material and Methods:
This retrospective study evaluated test results from cats for which a "Feline Travel Profile" established by the laboratory LABOKLIN had been requested by German veterinarians between 04/2012 and 03/2020 including direct (PCR: Hepatozoon spp. and Dirofilaria spp.) and indirect detection methods (IFAT: Ehrlichia spp., Leishmania spp.; Rickettsia spp. from 07/2015 onwards). Information on stays abroad was gathered by telephone calls to the treating veterinarians.

Results:
624 cats were tested. EDTA-blood was available from 618 and serum from all 624 cats. Positive test results were: Ehrlichia spp. IFAT 73/624 (12%), Leishmania spp. IFAT 22/624 (4%), Hepatozoon spp. PCR 53/618 (9%), Dirofilaria spp. PCR 1/618 cats (0.2%) and, from 07/2015 onwards, Rickettsia spp. IFAT 52/467 cats (11%). Coinfections were detected in 22/624 cats (4%). Information on potential stays abroad was available for 371/624 cats (59%; 356/371 import [mainly Spain and Greece], 6/371 travel [mainly Spain], 1/371 import and travel [Turkey], 8/371 no import/travel).

Conclusions:
175/624 cats (28%) were tested positive for at least one vector-borne pathogen. Coinfections with 2-3 pathogens were detectable in 4% of the cats. This data emphasizes the importance of considering the above-mentioned vector-borne infections as differential diagnoses in cats with history of stays abroad.