VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES IN COLONY STRAY CATS OF MILAN CITY

LEISHMANIA INFANTUM INFECTION IN STRAY CATS IN A NON-ENDEMIC AREA IN NORTHERN ITALY E. Spada, DVM, PhD, Researcher 1, A. Della Pepa, DVM 1, A. Migliazzo, DVM, PhD 2, G. Bagnagatti De Giorgi, DVM 1, R. Perego, DVM, PhD 1, D. Proverbio, DVM, PhD, Professor 1 1Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie per la Salute, la Produzione Animale e la Sicurezza Alimentare, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy 2Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Leishmaniosi,Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy Tipologia: Ricerca Originale Area di interesse: Medicina interna Purpose of the work. To assess the prevalence of leishmaniosis in a large representative sample of stray cats from this non-endemic area, and to analyze the results according to clinical, laboratory and infectious data 2. MOLECULAR STUDY ON VECTOR-BORNE INFECTIONS IN URBAN STRAY COLONY CAT IN NORTHENRN ITALY Eva Spada§, DVM, PhD, Researcher Daniela Proverbio§, DVM, PhD, Professor Alessandra Della Pepa§, DVM Paola Galluzzo*, Biologist Roberta Perego§, DVM, PhD Giada Bagnagatti De Giorgi§, DVM Abstract Feline vector-borne diseases are caused by a wide range of pathogens, which are transmitted by arthropods. Many of these infections have zoonotic implications and feral cats may potentially act as sentinels of human and pet health. The present study investigated the prevalence of vector-borne infections in feral colony cats in the city of Milan in northern Italy. Blood samples from 260 feral cats were evaluated, with conventional PCR, for the presence of DNA associated with hemoplasmas (Mycoplasma haemofelis and Mycoplasma haemominutum), Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Babesia microti. Odd ratios (OR) were calculated to identify risk factors for infection with vector-borne pathogens. Positive PCR was found in 156 out of 260 subjects (60%), with a prevalence of 33.1% for hemoplasmas, 31.9% for Rickettsia spp., 17.7% for A. phagocytophilum , 6.7% for Ehrlichia spp. (out of 30 samples), and 1.2% for B. microti spp (out of 168 samples). Statistical analysis revealed a correlation between infections with Rickettsia spp. and hemoplasmas (OR=1.95, P=0.02). Additionally, Rickettsia spp. infection was associated with ocular infection (OR=2.21, P=0.02). We conclude that vector-borne infections, including zoonotic diseases, are present in feral cats of Milan. Thus, domestic cats exposed to the outdoors should be routinely monitored and treated for ectoparasites to minimize disease onset and potential transmission of zoonotic agents to humans. Moreover, as these vector-borne infections are transmitted through blood, feline blood donors from this area should be screened by PCR.