Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece.
This survey investigated the distribution of various intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in four regions of Greece. A total number of one hundred and fifty cats living in three Islands (Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos) and in Athens municipality was esta...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:dd030ff0170e4d35bba13b50ab6cf0c6 2023-05-15T15:13:28+02:00 Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. Anastasia Diakou Angela Di Cesare Paolo Matteo Accettura Luciano Barros Raffaella Iorio Barbara Paoletti Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Lénaïg Halos Frederic Beugnet Donato Traversa 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 https://doaj.org/article/dd030ff0170e4d35bba13b50ab6cf0c6 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5302838?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 https://doaj.org/article/dd030ff0170e4d35bba13b50ab6cf0c6 PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 11, Iss 1, p e0005335 (2017) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 2022-12-31T03:52:43Z This survey investigated the distribution of various intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in four regions of Greece. A total number of one hundred and fifty cats living in three Islands (Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos) and in Athens municipality was established as a realistic aim to be accomplished in the study areas. All cats were examined with different microscopic, serological and molecular assays aiming at evaluating the occurrence of intestinal parasites, and exposure to or presence of vector-borne infections. A total of 135 cats (90%) was positive for one or more parasites and/or pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites. Forty-four (29.3%) cats were positive for one single infection, while 91 (60.7%) for more than one pathogen. A high number of (n. 53) multiple infections caused by feline intestinal and vector-borne agents including at least one zoonotic pathogen was detected. Among them, the most frequently recorded helminths were roundworms (Toxocara cati, 24%) and Dipylidium caninum (2%), while a high number of examined animals (58.8%) had seroreaction for Bartonella spp., followed by Rickettsia spp. (43.2%) and Leishmania infantum (6.1%). DNA-based assays revealed the zoonotic arthropod-borne organisms Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Rickettsia spp., and L. infantum. These results show that free-ranging cats living in areas of Greece under examination may be exposed to a plethora of internal parasites and vector-borne pathogens, some of them potentially able to infect humans. Therefore, epidemiological vigilance and appropriate control measures are crucial for the prevention and control of these infections and to minimize the risk of infection for people. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11 1 e0005335 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Anastasia Diakou Angela Di Cesare Paolo Matteo Accettura Luciano Barros Raffaella Iorio Barbara Paoletti Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Lénaïg Halos Frederic Beugnet Donato Traversa Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
This survey investigated the distribution of various intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in four regions of Greece. A total number of one hundred and fifty cats living in three Islands (Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos) and in Athens municipality was established as a realistic aim to be accomplished in the study areas. All cats were examined with different microscopic, serological and molecular assays aiming at evaluating the occurrence of intestinal parasites, and exposure to or presence of vector-borne infections. A total of 135 cats (90%) was positive for one or more parasites and/or pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites. Forty-four (29.3%) cats were positive for one single infection, while 91 (60.7%) for more than one pathogen. A high number of (n. 53) multiple infections caused by feline intestinal and vector-borne agents including at least one zoonotic pathogen was detected. Among them, the most frequently recorded helminths were roundworms (Toxocara cati, 24%) and Dipylidium caninum (2%), while a high number of examined animals (58.8%) had seroreaction for Bartonella spp., followed by Rickettsia spp. (43.2%) and Leishmania infantum (6.1%). DNA-based assays revealed the zoonotic arthropod-borne organisms Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Rickettsia spp., and L. infantum. These results show that free-ranging cats living in areas of Greece under examination may be exposed to a plethora of internal parasites and vector-borne pathogens, some of them potentially able to infect humans. Therefore, epidemiological vigilance and appropriate control measures are crucial for the prevention and control of these infections and to minimize the risk of infection for people. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Anastasia Diakou Angela Di Cesare Paolo Matteo Accettura Luciano Barros Raffaella Iorio Barbara Paoletti Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Lénaïg Halos Frederic Beugnet Donato Traversa |
author_facet |
Anastasia Diakou Angela Di Cesare Paolo Matteo Accettura Luciano Barros Raffaella Iorio Barbara Paoletti Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono Lénaïg Halos Frederic Beugnet Donato Traversa |
author_sort |
Anastasia Diakou |
title |
Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
title_short |
Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
title_full |
Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
title_fullStr |
Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece. |
title_sort |
intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular greece. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 https://doaj.org/article/dd030ff0170e4d35bba13b50ab6cf0c6 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 11, Iss 1, p e0005335 (2017) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5302838?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 https://doaj.org/article/dd030ff0170e4d35bba13b50ab6cf0c6 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005335 |
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PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
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11 |
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1 |
container_start_page |
e0005335 |
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