title: First report of Cytauxzoon sp. infection in a domestic cat from Portugal.
abstract: Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging and life-threatening tick-borne feline disease caused by haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Cytauxzoon. Information regarding epidemiological and clinical presentation of infections by species other than Cytauxzoon felis is scant. A case of Cytauxzoon sp. infection is described in a 2-year-old mixed breed male domestic cat from Portugal, presenting a history of acute lethargy, anorexia and pyrexia.
  
  
  
  Complete blood count revealed a severe anaemia, leucocytosis and thrombocytopenia. A pleural effusion was noticed on thoracic radiograph, and marked splenomegaly and free abdominal fluid were visualized by ultrasound. A molecular screening for the detection of causative agents of infectious anaemia was performed, and a positive result for Piroplasmorida was obtained. DNA sequencing of a 743 bp amplicon of the 18S rRNA gene (GenBank accession no. KU710344) revealed 99.9 % identity with Cytauxzoon manul.
  
  
  
  This is the first report of Cytauxzoon sp. (clustering together with C. manul) in a felid from Portugal. Clinical manifestations along with molecular analysis suggest the hypothesis that domestic cats might be infected with and serve as a reservoir host for C. manul.
authors.affiliation: CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa), Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alho
authors.affiliation: Biopremier S.A., Campus da Faculdade de Ciências, ULisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Hospital do Gato, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Hospital do Gato, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Biopremier S.A., Campus da Faculdade de Ciências, ULisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa), Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Madeira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Biopremier S.A., Campus da Faculdade de Ciências, ULisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal. lcardoso@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000662:veterinary; D001483:Base Sequence; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005334:Fever / Q000662:veterinary; D053609:Lethargy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016792:Piroplasmida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011174:Portugal; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Cytauxzoon manul; Cytauxzoon sp.; Domestic cat; Haemoparasite; Piroplasm; Portugal; Tick-borne disease