Microscopy and molecular survey of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats and their ticks: First report of H. silvestris from Türkiye

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Parasitology International Pub Date : 2024-10-09 DOI:10.1016/j.parint.2024.102979

Zuhal Önder , Didem Pekmezci , Alparslan Yıldırım , Gökmen Zafer Pekmezci , Önder Düzlü , Zeynep Nurselin Kot , Gamze Nur Konacoğlu , Gamze Yetişmiş , Abdullah İnci

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Abstract

Hepatozoonosis is a tick-borne infection caused by protozoan species of the Hepatozoon genus in the family Hepatozoidae. This study aimed to determine the presence and prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats and their ticks, to characterize the genotypes, to reveal phylogenetic relationships, and to assess the risk factors associated with infection. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes from 311 cats that were brought to the Veterinary Faculty, Animal Hospital for treatment or routine control purposes. Smears were prepared from the buffy coat and examined microscopically for the presence of Hepatozoon spp. gamonts. Ticks were collected during the clinical examination of the cats and the species were identified. Genomic DNA obtained from buffy coats and ticks were analyzed using PCR analyses targeting the 18S rRNA gene region of Hepatozoon spp. The results showed that Hepatozoon spp. gamonts in neutrophils were determined in five samples as 1.6 % (5/311). A total of 58 (18.64 %, 58/311) were positive for the PCR analyses. Twelve ticks were collected from the cats, and all were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus. Hepatozoon spp. were found in seven (58.3 %) ticks by molecular analyses. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene region of 58 positive isolates revealed the presence of H. felis (n = 25, 43.1 %) and H. silvestris (n = 33, 56.9 %) species in cats and H. felis in Rh. turanicus (n = 7). This study also presents the first report of H. silvestris in domestic cats from Türkiye. Phylogenetic analyses showed that our H. felis isolates clustered in H. felis genotype I and our H. silvestris were stated in the same cluster with Italian isolates.

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家猫及其蜱虫中 Hepatozoon spp.的显微镜和分子调查：首次报告来自土耳其的 H. silvestris。

肝吸虫病是由肝吸虫科肝吸虫属的原生动物物种引起的蜱媒感染。本研究旨在确定家猫及其蜱虫中肝包虫属的存在和流行情况，描述其基因型，揭示其系统发育关系，并评估与感染相关的风险因素。研究人员用 EDTA 管采集了 311 只猫的血液样本，这些猫被送到兽医系动物医院接受治疗或进行常规控制。从血清中制备涂片，用显微镜检查是否存在肝吸虫配子体。在对猫进行临床检查时收集了蜱虫，并对其种类进行了鉴定。结果显示，在5个样本中，1.6%（5/311）的中性粒细胞中发现了肝吸虫配子体。共有 58 个样本（18.64%，58/311）的 PCR 分析结果呈阳性。从猫身上采集到 12 只蜱虫，经鉴定均为 Rhipicephalus turanicus。通过分子分析，在七只（58.3 %）蜱虫中发现了肝吸虫属。对 58 个阳性分离物的 18S rRNA 基因区进行的序列分析表明，猫体内存在 H. felis（n = 25，43.1%）和 H. silvestris（n = 33，56.9%）种，Rh. turanicus（n = 7）体内存在 H. felis。本研究还首次报告了土耳其家猫中的 H. silvestris。系统发育分析表明，我们的猫痢疾杆菌分离物被归入猫痢疾杆菌基因型 I，而我们的猫痢疾杆菌与意大利分离物被归入同一集群。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Parasitology International 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

4.00

自引率

10.50%

发文量

140

审稿时长

61 days

期刊介绍： Parasitology International provides a medium for rapid, carefully reviewed publications in the field of human and animal parasitology. Original papers, rapid communications, and original case reports from all geographical areas and covering all parasitological disciplines, including structure, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and systematics, may be submitted. Reviews on recent developments are invited regularly, but suggestions in this respect are welcome. Letters to the Editor commenting on any aspect of the Journal are also welcome.