title: Prevalence of selected rickettsial infections in cats in Southern Germany.
abstract: Prevalence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia, and Wolbachia DNA in blood of 479 cats collected in different veterinary clinics in Southern Germany was determined using a previously published conventional PCR using 16S-23S intergenic spacer primers (5' CTG GGG ACT ACG GTC GCA AGA C 3' - forward; 5' CTC CAG TTT ATC ACT GGA AGT T 3' - reverse). Purified amplicons were sequenced to confirm genus and species. Associations between rickettsial infections, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), as well as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) status were evaluated. Rickettsial prevalence was 0.4% (2/479; CI: 0.01-1.62%). In the two infected cats, Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was amplified. These cats came from different environment and had outdoor access. Both were ill with many of their problems likely related to other diseases. However, one cat had neutrophilia with left shift and the other thrombocytopenia potentially caused by their A. phagocytophilum infection. There was no significant difference in the FIV and FeLV status between A. phagocytophilum-negative and -positive cats. A. phagocytophilum can cause infection in cats in Southern Germany, and appropriate tick control is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: n.bergmann@medizinische-kleintierklinik.de.
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuetzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics; D000711:Anaplasmataceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000235:genetics; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000235:genetics; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000235:genetics; D041102:Neorickettsia / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Anaplasma; Ehrlicha; Feline; Neorickettsia; Wolbachia