ArticleParasites & vectors2014
The role of cats in the eco-epidemiology of spotted fever group diseases.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 49 citations in OpenAlex.
- Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species infections in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and managementJournal of feline medicine and surgery · 2017Guideline
- Seroepidemiology of Rickettsia conorii in dogs in Portugal: a comprehensive 12-year retrospective study (2013-2024).Parasites & vectors · 2025Article
- Identification of miR-71* as a regulator of Flotillin-1 in egg development of Rhipicephalus sanguineus.Veterinary research communications · 2025Article
- Parasitism on domestic cats by Amblyomma auricularium and serological evidence of exposure to Rickettsia amblyommatis.Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria · 2024Article
- Canine and Feline Parasitology: Analogies, Differences, and Relevance for Human Health.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2021Review
- Monitoring the patterns of submission and presence of tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes scapularis collected from humans and companion animals in Ontario, Canada (2011-2017).Parasites & vectors · 2021Article
- Retrospective evaluation of vector-borne pathogens in cats living in Germany (2012-2020).Parasites & vectors · 2021Article
- Rickettsia spp. in rodent-attached ticks in Estonia and first evidence of spotted fever group Rickettsia species Candidatus Rickettsia uralica in Europe.Parasites & vectors · 2021Article
- Circulation of Rickettsia species and rickettsial endosymbionts among small mammals and their ectoparasites in Eastern Slovakia.Parasitology research · 2020Article
- Role of vector-borne pathogens in the development of fever in cats: 2. Tick- and sandfly-associated diseases.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2020Review
- Emerging feline vector-borne pathogens in Italy.Parasites & vectors · 2019Article
- Neglected aspects of tick-borne rickettsioses.Parasites & vectors · 2018Review
- Clinical evaluation of outdoor cats exposed to ectoparasites and associated risk for vector-borne infections in southern Italy.Parasites & vectors · 2018Article
- Survey of vector-borne agents in feral cats and first report of Babesia gibsoni in cats on St Kitts, West Indies.BMC veterinary research · 2017Article
- Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2017Article
- Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy.Parasites & vectors · 2016Article
- Knock-down and speed of kill of a combination of fipronil and permethrin for the prevention of Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation in dogs.Parasites & vectors · 2016Article
- Serological differentiation of antibodies against Rickettsia helvetica, R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. monacensis and R. felis in dogs from Germany by a micro-immunofluorescent antibody test.Parasites & vectors · 2015Article
- Challenges posed by tick-borne rickettsiae: eco-epidemiology and public health implications.Frontiers in public health · 2015Review
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF), whose etiological agent is R. conorii, is one of the oldest described vector-borne infectious diseases. Although it is endemic in the Mediterranean area, clinical cases have also been reported in other regions. R. massiliae-Bar29 is related to MSF cases. This strain is distributed worldwide. R. conorii and R. massiliae-Bar29 are transmitted by ticks. Dogs are considered the sentinel of R. conorii infection. Cats could also be involved in their transmission. Rickettsia felis, etiological agent of Flea-borne spotted fever, is mainly transmitted by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Up to now, the role of cats in its transmission is not entirely elucidated. The aim of the study is to analyze the infection in cats by these microorganisms.
methodsThe study was undertaken in Northeastern Spain. Twenty municipalities of seven regions participated in the study. 212 cats (pets and stray cats) were analyzed. Variables surveyed were: date of collection, age, sex, municipality, source, living place, outdoor activities, health status, type of disease, contact with other animals, and ectoparasite infestation. Sera were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). Molecular detection (real-time PCR and sequencing) and cultures were performed on blood samples.
resultsThere were 59 (27.8%) cats seroreactive to one or more microorganisms. Considering cross-reactions, the seroprevalences were 15.6%-19.5% (R. massiliae-Bar29), 1.9%-6.2% (R. conorii), and 5.2%-7.5% (R. felis). A weak association was observed between SFG seropositivity and tick infestation. Ticks found on seropositive cats were Rhipicephalus pusillus, R. sanguineus and R. turanicus. DNA of Rickettsia was detected in 23 cats. 21 of them could be sequenced. Sequences obtained were identical to those sequences of SFG rickettsiae similar to R. conorii and R. massiliae. No amplification of R. felis was obtained.
conclusionsCats can be infected by SFG rickettsiae and produce antibodies against them. Cats may play a role in the transmission cycle of R. conorii and R. massiliae-Bar29, although the role in the R. felis cycle needs further analysis.
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