Bartonella spp. prevalence in domestic cats and their ectoparasites in Lithuania

Climate change and human migration with companion animals have an impact on the spreading of vectors and associated pathogens, which causes a growing risk of zoonoses. Bartonella spp. are abundant zoonotic vectorborne pathogens that are found in domestic cats. Infection of cats with bartonellal agents results in a wide spectrum of disease that ranges from subclinical, inapparent infection to severe, potentially fatal illness. One of the most common being – Cat scratch disease, caused by B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae. When infection results in disease, affected animals usually develop fever, lethargy, myalgia, and, in the most severe cases – death. Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus ticks or cat flea Ctenocephalides felis, which are widespread in Europe can be vectors of Bartonella spp. Humans can be infected via a scratch or bite of the cat, also bite of the infected cat flea or tick. The aim of this study was to investigate Bartonella spp. prevalence in domestic cats, their ticks and fleas in Lithuania. A total of 105 of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks and 102 Ct. felis and Ct. canis fleas were collected from cats and tested for pathogens by using nested PCR methods. Blood samples were collected from 163 cats presented in pet clinics and animal shelter. Bartonella spp. DNA in samples was detected using a nested-PCR of the ITS region. Bartonella species were detected in 3 (2.9%) out of 105 ticks, 8 (4.9%) out of 163 cats and 21 (20.6%) out of 102 fleas. Positive tick samples were 33.3 % of engorged ticks and 66.7 % of unfed ticks. All ticks from positive Bartonella spp. samples were I. ricinus. Bartonella spp. were detected in 16 out of 92 of Ct. felis flea species, and 5 out of 10 Ct. canis flea species. The ITS region sequences showed that both, B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae were detected in cats and fleas. B. henselae was more common than B. clarridgeiae. Three B. henselae strains were identified. [...]Biologijos katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasLietuvos sveikatos mokslų universitetas. Veterinarijos akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta