title: Serological and molecular evidence of exposure to arthropod-borne organisms in cats from northeastern Spain.
abstract: One hundred sixty-eight cat sera from Spain were tested for IgG antibodies to Rickettsia conorii (Rc), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) and Bartonella henselae (Bh) antigens using IFA and for FeLV antigen and FIV antibody by ELISA. For 47 whole blood samples, PCR testing was performed for Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Bartonella. Seroprevalences were: Bh (71.4%), Rc (44%), Ec (11.3%), FeLV (8.5%), FIV (7.4%) and Ap (1.8%). Bh antibodies were associated with seroreactivity to both Ec and Rc antigens. FIV antibodies were associated with illness and cats older than 2 years. Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae (Bcl) DNA was amplified from seven and one sample, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solano-Gallego
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hegarty
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Espada
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llull
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D020114:Rickettsia conorii / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral