Serological evidence of exposure to Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Central Italian healthy domestic cats

• Published in: Ticks and tick-borne diseases Vol. 5; no. 6; pp. 668 - 671
• Main Authors: Ebani, Valentina V., Bertelloni, Fabrizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.10.2014
• Subjects: adults; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Anaplasma phagocytophilum - immunology; Anaplasma phagocytophilum - isolation & purification; Animals; antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; blood serum; Cats; Disease Reservoirs - microbiology; Ehrlichia canis; Ehrlichia canis - immunology; Ehrlichia canis - isolation & purification; Female; fluorescent antibody technique; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Italy; Male; mixed breeds; purebreds; Seroepidemiologic Studies; seroprevalence; surveys; tick-borne diseases; ticks; Italy; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Serology; Ehrlichia canis; Cat
• ISSN: 1877-959X; 1877-9603; 1877-9603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.04.019

The aim of the present survey was to estimate the seroprevalences of Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the Central Italian feline population. Serum samples of 560 healthy domestic cats were examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT), considering an antibody titre of 1:40 as cut-off. Seroprevalences of 6.4% and 4.5% were found for E. canis and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. Adult, mixed breed cats showed seroprevalences higher than younger and purebred subjects, whereas no differences were observed in relation to gender and living conditions.