Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Investigation of the epidemiology of calicivirus infection of cats using molecular and virus isolation techniques","authors":"Gulizar Acar ,&nbsp;Seval Bi̇lge-Dagalp","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feline calicivirus (FCV) an important and widely detected upper respiratory system agent in cats. Being genetically diverse, FCV can cause different symptoms, such as pneumonia, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, arthritis, and, recently, virulent systemic disease. The present study first determined the presence/prevalence of FCV infection in sampled vaccinated/unvaccinated cats with suspected FCV and/or clinically healthy. Second, it compared PCR and virus isolation (VI) in detecting FCV in these cats. It also aimed to diagnose FCV, and evaluate the advantages/disadvantages of the region and primers used for PCR. Third, it genetically characterized the FCV strains, targeting the VP1 (A-B and E) gene region. A total of 331 diagnostic materials (conjunctival, nasal, oropharyngeal swab samples, and EDTA-containing blood samples) were obtained from 107 cats and checked using PCR and VI. Including both tests, the overall FCV positivity rate was 43.93 % (47/107). The FCV positivity rate was 35.99 % (21/59)/53.33 % (24/45) in vaccinated/unvaccinated and 58.06 % (18/31)/38.16 % (29/76) in clinically infected/clinically healthy cats, respectively. As a result of direct nested RT-PCR, FCV positivity was detected in 23.08 % of oropharyngeal swabs, 15.24 % of nasal swabs and 14.02 % of conjunctival swabs based on diagnostic material. FCV was also detected in 19.63 % (21/107) of the cats after virus isolation. Those samples that were FCV positive for VP1 A-B and VP1 E were subjected to sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Regarding many of the detected viruses were similar to the viruses in Genogroup I, while two viruses (ANK111OSW and ANK113OSW) were phylogenetically similar to both Genogroup I and Genogroup II at the same rate (74.30 %). The findings indicate a, higher overall FCV detection rate than in previous studies in Türkiye. Molecular diagnostic methods are not always sufficient for diagnosing infection due to FCV’s genetic diversity from mutation and, recombination. Hence, including VI techniques in FCV evaluation will help prevent false negative results. Furthermore, testing oropharyngeal, nasal and conjunctival swabs together for FCV is believed to provide more accurate results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"119 ","pages":"Article 102335"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143609610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Staphylococcus spp. and methicillin-resistance gene mecA dispersion in seawater: A case study of Guanabara Bay's recreational and touristic waters","authors":"Lucas Cecílio Vilar ,&nbsp;Antônio Carlos Silva Rego ,&nbsp;Marco Antônio Lemos Miguel ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Pinheiro da Rocha Paranhos ,&nbsp;Marinella Silva Laport ,&nbsp;Ciro César Rossi ,&nbsp;Marcia Giambiagi-deMarval","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental <em>Staphylococci</em>, particularly coagulase-negative <em>Staphylococci</em> (CoNS), are known reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes and human-animal opportunistic pathogens, yet their role within the One Health framework remains underexplored. In this study, we isolated 12 species of CoNS from two sites 10 km apart in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, with the most frequent species being the opportunistic <em>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</em> (30.3 %), <em>Staphylococcus warneri</em> (25.7 %), and <em>Staphylococcus epidermidis</em> (16.7 %). GTG₅-PCR fingerprinting revealed significant genetic diversity, yet identical profiles persisted across both sites throughout the year, indicating strain dispersion and persistence. Among the 66 strains analyzed, 42 exhibited resistance to clinically significant antimicrobials, including methicillin-resistant strains harboring the <em>mecA</em> gene. Remarkably, 22.7 % of the strains carried CRISPR-Cas systems, a frequency unusually high for <em>Staphylococcus</em> spp., suggesting that bacteriophage pressure in the seawater environment may drive this increase. The presence of antimicrobial-resistant CoNS in Guanabara Bay, a popular recreational area, represents a potential public health risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102326"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143418996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A data-driven dynamical system model for assessing targeted interventions against brucellosis in Tanzania","authors":"Innocent Sosoma ,&nbsp;Eunice Mureithi ,&nbsp;Guttorm Alendal ,&nbsp;Zachariah Makondo ,&nbsp;Nyimvua Shaban Mbare","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Brucellosis remains a critical public health and economic concern in Tanzania, particularly in regions with high livestock-human interaction. This paper developed a data-driven dynamical system model to evaluate targeted interventions for controlling brucellosis transmission. The model integrated human, animal, and environmental components, emphasizing public health education and domestic animal management practices. Data from ten regions namely Dodoma, Morogoro, Manyara, Arusha, Mara, Kagera, Shinyanga, Mwanza, Tanga, and Singida, collected between January 2021 and May 2024 were used for parameter estimation. The model was fitted to observed data using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method with the Adaptive Metropolis algorithm, while a graph-theoretic approach derived the effective reproduction number (<em>R</em>_<em>e</em>) and the force of infection to quantify intervention impacts. Results showed a marked decline in brucellosis transmission. The force of infection dropped from 0.99262 in 2021 to 0.13265 in May 2024, and annual cases fell from 173 in 2021 to 93 in 2024. Public health education improved safe animal handling practices, while enhanced animal management strategies such as fencing, health checks, isolation of infected animals, and controlled breeding curbed disease spread and reduced environmental contamination. Sustained interventions kept <em>R</em>_<em>e</em> &lt; 1, achieving long-term disease control. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring, expanded diagnostics, and region-specific interventions to sustain progress and address remaining challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102324"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cultural human-snake interactions in the festa dei serpari as an opportunity for the surveillance of bacterial pathogens of zoonotic concern","authors":"Renata Fagundes-Moreira ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto ,&nbsp;Gianpaolo Montinaro ,&nbsp;Ernesto Filippi ,&nbsp;Alessio Lorusso ,&nbsp;Antonio Petrini ,&nbsp;Livia De Fazi ,&nbsp;Marialaura Corrente ,&nbsp;Giovanni Benelli ,&nbsp;Jairo A. Mendoza-Roldan","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reptiles harbour a wide range of pathogen species, some of which can pose risks to human health. Among them, snakes serve as valuable sentinels for monitoring pathogens, particularly in some cultural contexts where animal-human interactions offer a unique opportunity to delve into bacterial dynamics throughout the years. This is the case of the annual serpent ritual “<em>festa dei serpari</em>” in Cocullo, in central Italy renowned for the San Domenico snakes festival. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of a comprehensive database of bacterial pathogens associated with wild snakes captured during the ritual, from 2010 to 2023 (excluding 2020 and 2021). Using different sampling methods, comprising cloacal, oral, and cutaneous swabs, along with faecal material, a total of 563 biological samples were collected from 465 registered snakes harvested for this unique ritual. Samples were analysed to assess the prevalence of bacterial species on snakes and the potential risks to human health. Seventy bacterial species were identified using traditional growth media, molecular diagnosis, biochemical analyses, and mass spectrometry performed in two national reference institutes. Among the results, zoonotic and opportunistic bacteria such as <em>Salmonella</em> spp., <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and drug-resistant <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> were of particular concern. The results also revealed significant trends during the years under investigation, with an increasing prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria and <em>Staphylococcus sciuri</em>, along with a decline in <em>Salmonella</em> spp. Our findings emphasize the importance of continued surveillance of zoonotic pathogens, given the close human-snake interactions that occur during this Sacro-profane historical ritual.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in migratory geese at West Texas recreational parks","authors":"Yamima Tasnim ,&nbsp;Md. Kaisar Rahman ,&nbsp;Cherissa Abdul-Hamid ,&nbsp;Babafela Awosile","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to determine the prevalence, and the genomic characteristics of <em>beta-lactamase-</em>Resistant <em>Escherichia coli</em> isolated from the feces of migratory geese at one health interface in West Texas. A descriptive study was conducted. We collected geese feces (n = 165), water (n = 118), and soil (n = 74) from 22 recreational parks in West Texas. We used Chromogenic agar to isolate extended-spectrum <em>beta-lactamase</em> (ESBL)-Resistant-<em>E. coli</em>. We used the whole genome sequencing (WGS) method to determine the genomic characteristics of selected <em>E. coli</em> isolates. Among 357 samples, 12.61 % (95 %CI: 9.34–16.50) were positive for ESBL- Resistant-<em>E. coli</em>. From WGS of 20 <em>E. coli</em> isolates, 19 isolates harbored at least 1 <em>beta-lactamase</em> gene including <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-1, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-65, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-14, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-15, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-27, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-55, <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-32, <em>bla</em>_TEM-1A, <em>bla</em>_TEM-1B. Most of the isolates carried genes conferring resistance to tetracyclines-(<em>tet(A)</em>, <em>tet(B)</em>), aminoglycosides-(<em>aac(3)-IIa, aph(6)-Id, aph(3′)-Ia, aadA1</em>), sulfonamides-(<em>sul1,sul2</em>), amphenicol-(<em>floR</em>), trimethoprim-(<em>dfrA1, dfrA14, dfrA17</em>) and streptogramin-B(MLSB) agent-(<em>mph(A)</em>). 13 isolates showed chromosomal mutations in the promoter region G of the <em>ampC beta-lactamase</em> gene. We detected sixteen incompatibility plasmid groups and 60 virulence genes, which are related to adherence, exotoxin, invasion, and nutrition/metabolic factors. Genome analysis showed that all isolates were genetically similar to human <em>E. coli</em> isolates. The study showed that migratory geese at recreational parks can be reservoirs of resistant bacteria with diverse serotypes and sequence types of <em>E. coli</em> isolates. Based on the findings, the detection of a multidrug-resistant <em>E. coli</em> strain reinforces the importance of adequate hygiene practices for humans and pet animals after visiting recreational parks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102320"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of coccidiosis in broiler chickens in Medea, Algeria","authors":"Khelouia Amina ,&nbsp;Mohamed Sadek Bachene ,&nbsp;Oumouna Mustapha ,&nbsp;Taha Moussadak Hamdi","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study, investigates the prevalence of Eimeria species in broiler farms in Medea, Algeria. A total of 200 samples were collected from 26 breeding farms across 07 regions in Medea, finding a prevalence rate of 100 %. Five Eimeria species were present in all broiler farms. The results indicated that most fecal samples contained multiple Eimeria species. The decreasing infection rates of Eimeria in the studied broiler farms were: E. Mitis (92,5 %), E. tenella (81 %), E. necatrix (76 %),E. maxima (38,5 %), E. brunetti (22 %),E. acervulina (00 %), and E. praecox (00 %). This indicates that E. mitis is the predominant species in the province of Medea.Histopathological examination of the intestines revealed destruction of epithelial cells caused by the development of the parasite's asexual stages, leading to errosive and hemorrhagic lesions throughout the entire intestine. The mucosa appeared denuded and disrupted, with intense inflammation extending from the <em>lamina propria</em> to the submucosa. Additionally, thickening of the muscularis mucosa was observed, along with broken or fused tips of the villi. These results indicated that the prevalence of coccidiosis is high among the broiler farms in Medea province, North of Algeria. As a conclusion, it seems that the epidemiological situation of poultry coccidiosis in Medea province must be taken into consideration in order to minimize the economic losses caused by this parasitosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102323"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143386850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptospira among Rattus norvegicus in urban residential areas of Guangzhou, Southern China","authors":"Shan-Hong Yi ,&nbsp;Dan Xun ,&nbsp;Qiao-Ling Lei,&nbsp;Chen-Chen Yang,&nbsp;Jian-Wei Shao","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> spirochetes, poses a significant global public health threat. Rodents, particularly those inhabiting urban environments, are recognized as the primary reservoirs for human infections. Therefore, conducting epidemiological studies on pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> in urban rodent populations is essential for evaluating the risk of human leptospirosis. In this study, we captured 263 <em>Rattus norvegicus</em> from urban residential areas across five districts in Guangzhou to access the prevalence and genetic diversity of pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em>. Our findings revealed the presence of two pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> species, <em>L. interrogans</em> and <em>L. borgpetersenii</em>, which are the primary pathogens responsible for human leptospirosis in China, in four of the five districts, with an overall prevalence of 10.3 %. Given the close proximity of <em>R. norvegicus</em> to human populations in urban areas, this significant prevalence of pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> indicates an elevated risk of leptospirosis outbreaks among residents of Guangzhou. These results highlight the urgent need for ongoing monitoring of pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> infections in urban rodent populations to prevent and control potential outbreaks of leptospirosis in the city.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102322"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143378314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Severe lamb diarrhea outbreak: Clinical features, identification of the causative agent, and a prophylactic approach","authors":"Shaimaa El-gbily ,&nbsp;Marwa M. Eldokmak ,&nbsp;Rasha Diabb ,&nbsp;Osama M. Abas ,&nbsp;Emad Beshir Ata ,&nbsp;Safwat Kamal ,&nbsp;Shahenaz M.H. Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lamb diarrhea is an important problem and has a significance impact on the ovine sector productivity. This study aimed to identify the causative agent related to a severe diarrhea outbreak in neonatal lambs in Egypt. A total number of 30 lambs representing different farms were investigated. Faecal samples were obtained for parasitological, bacteriological, and virological examination. Tissue samples were obtained for histopathology. While blood was obtained for measuring haematological parameters and humeral immune response against the used Entero-3 vaccine®, respectively. The obtained results cleared presence of significant clinical symptoms of diarrhea, dehydration and inflammation of the large intestine which was filled with watery fluid content. Parasitological causative agents were not recorded. <em>Enterococcus sp.</em> was successfully isolated from 30 % of the samples (seven isolates <em>E. faecium</em> and two <em>E. gallinarum</em>) with detection of the Asa and Esp virulence genes. While <em>E. coli</em> was detected in 26.6 % of the cases, they were identified as O124:K72, O111:K58, O78:K80, O26:K60 with successful amplification of the Sta and F5 (K99) virulence genes. The obtained isolates were susceptible to the Amikacin . Using vaccination as a prophylactic approach resulted in decreasing mortality rates with presence of a protective seroconversion rate in the vaccinated animals. The haematological parameters showed presence of neutrophilia and lymphocytosis. Histopathologically, desquamations of the villi’ enterocytes were the most common lesion. In conclusion, this study highlights the roles of bacterial and viral infection in causing severe lamb enteritis and high mortalities which necessitate establishing of ewe’s vaccination programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102318"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic resistance and molecular typing of duck-derived Escherichia coli isolates","authors":"Hongyan Dong ,&nbsp;Shanyuan Zhu ,&nbsp;Dongyu Zheng ,&nbsp;Caoyu Fei ,&nbsp;Zhi Wu ,&nbsp;Shuang Wu ,&nbsp;Anping Wang ,&nbsp;Shengqing Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102321","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avian pathogenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> (APEC) causes severe economic losses in duck farms through complex, frequent infections and secondary infections<em>.</em> In this study, 73 suspected <em>E. coli</em> strains were isolated from diseased ducks of three provinces in China during 2019–2020, and identified using polymerase chain reaction. The O serotypes, drug susceptibility and molecular subtyping of the strains were also analyzed. The results showed that 9 of the 73 strains belong to classical APEC serotypes, including 1 serotype O1 strain, 2 serotype O2 strains, 2 serotype O18 strains, and 4 serotype O78 strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that 69/73 (94.52 %) strains were sensitive to polymyxin B, but less than 6/73 (8.22 %) strains were sensitive to clindamycin, kanamycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline. All strains were multidrug-resistant. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis clustering analysis revealed that these strains shared over 50 % similarity of the band patterns, with seven groups showing 100 % similarity among themselves. Notably, strains from Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces in 2019 had 100 % similarity in certain groups, with some strains showing identical resistance profiles. Additionally, isolates from Anhui and Jiangsu provinces across different years also exhibited 100 % similarity, suggesting potential cross-province transmission. In summary, the 73 duck-derived <em>E. coli</em> isolates exhibited strong antibiotic resistance and a broad resistance profile, with genotypes showing polymorphic distribution and epidemiological relevance. The 100 % similarity among some strains within and between provinces underscores the need for epidemiological investigation to inform effective prevention and control measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102321"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143386849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Primarily molecular detection and phylogenetic analyses of spotted fever group Rickettsia species in cats in Türkiye: With new host reports of Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia slovaca, and Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae","authors":"Ufuk Erol ,&nbsp;Omer Faruk Sahin ,&nbsp;Osman Furkan Urhan ,&nbsp;Melih Gazi Genc ,&nbsp;Kursat Altay","doi":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cimid.2025.102319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Domestic cats are companion animals that live with people in their households or outdoors, and strong relationships exist between cats and humans. However, this animal is also a host/reservoir of zoonotic pathogens, including <em>Rickettsia</em> species. In Türkiye, cat ownership has increased over the years, but there is a lack of data on the pathogens in cats. In this study, 396 cat blood samples were collected from different parts of Türkiye, and these samples were investigated for <em>Rickettsia</em> species with PCR assay. In addition, DNA sequences were performed for species identification and phylogenetic analyses of detected <em>Rickettsia</em> species. 24 out of 396 cat blood samples (6.06 %) were found to be infected with <em>Rickettsia</em> species. The DNA sequence analyses of all PCR-positive samples were done, and <em>Ri. aeschlimannii</em> was identified in 17 samples, <em>Ri. slovaca</em> in four, <em>Candidatus</em> Rickettsia barbariae in two, and <em>Ri. raoultii</em> in one sample. The phylogenetic analyses of obtained DNA from the above-mentioned species were performed. The sequence data belonging to the species were uploaded to the GenBank, and accession numbers for <em>Rickettsia aeschlimannii</em> (PP998242-PP998258), <em>Ri. slovaca</em> (PP998259-PP998262), <em>Candidatus Rickettsia</em> barbariae (PP998263-PP998264), and <em>Ri. raoultii</em> (PP998265) were taken. This result provides the first molecular detection of <em>Ri. aeschlimannii, Ri. slovaca, Candidatus</em> Rickettsia barbariae, and <em>Ri. raoultii</em> in Türkiye. Moreover, the DNA of <em>Ri. aeschlimannii, Ri. slovaca,</em> and <em>Candidatus</em> Rickettsia barbariae were identified in cat blood samples for the first time in the world, and the cats were a new host for these <em>Rickettsia</em> species. Detailed studies are, however, needed to determine the pathogenicity, biological characteristics, and vectors of these <em>Rickettsia</em> species in this new host.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50999,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 102319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}