Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
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Abstract
Background: Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoan parasite transmitted by ticks and affects felids. Acute infection in domestic cats is characterized by symptoms such as lethargy, anorexia, fever, and anemia.
Methods: The present study focuses on diagnosing and molecularly identifying C. felis using a real-time PCR method in cats from Semnan, Iran. During the winter and spring of 2024, two hundred cats were randomly selected from veterinary clinics in Semnan. Blood samples were collected from the cats for DNA extraction and molecular analysis. Samples were divided into 40 pooled of 5 samples, each consisting of a combination of 5 blood samples. Then, the genomic DNAs were extracted from blood specimens and screened by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for the presence of C. felis infection by amplifying of ITS2 gene belonging to the Cytauxzoon genus.
Results: The results indicated that 6 out of the 200 blood samples were infected (3%).
Conclusion: This study was conducted for the first time in Semnan and shows that the prevalence of C. felis in cats is significant.
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11. Meinkoth J, Kocan AA, Whitworth L et al. Cats surviving natural infection with Cytauxzoon felis: 18 cases (1997–1998). J Vet Intern Med. 2000; 14(5):521–525.
12. Wagner JE. A fatal cytauxzoonosis-like disease in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1976;168(7):585-8.
13. Carli E, Trotta M, Chinelli R et al. Cytauxzoon sp. infection in the first endemic focus described in domestic cats in Europe. Vet Parasitol. 2012; 183(3-4):343-52.
14. Maia LMP, Cerqueira AMF, Macieira DB et al. Cytauxzoon felis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum coinfection in a Brazilian domestic cat (Felis catus). Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2013; 22(2): 289–291.
15. Carli E, Trotta M, Bianchi E et al. Cytauxzoon sp. infection in two free ranging young cats: clinicopathological findings, therapy and follow up. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2014; 38(3):185–189.
16. Alho AM, Silva J, Fonseca MJ et al. First report of Cytauxzoon sp. Infection in a domestic cat from Portugal. Parasit Vectors. 2016; 9(1):220.
17. Nentwig A, Meli ML, Schrack J et al. First report of Cytauxzoon sp. infection in domestic cats in Switzerland: natural and transfusion-transmitted infections. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11(1):292.
18. Rassouli M, Sabouri S, Goudarzi A, Parsa M. Cytauxzoon felis in a stray cat in Iran. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015; 24:75-7.
19. Zaeemi M, Razmi GR, Khoshnegah J. The first detection of Cytauxzoon felis in a wild cat (Felis silvestris) in Iran. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015; 24:181-4.
20. Reichard MV, Van Den Bussche RA, Meinkoth JH et al. A new species of Cytauxzoon from pallas'cats caught in Mongolia and comments on the systematics and taxonomy of piroplasmids. J Parasitol. 2005; 91(2):420–426.
21. Varshney JP, Deshmukh VV, Chaudhary PS. Fatal cytauxzoonosis in a kitten. Intas Polivet. 2009; 10:392–393.
22. Karaca M, Akkan HA, Tutuncu M, Ozdal N, Deger S, Agaoglu ZT. Cytauxzoonosis in Van Cats. YYU Vet Fak Derg. 2007; 18(1): 37–39.
23. Zou FC, Li Z, Yang JF, Chang JY, Liu GH, Lv Y, Zhu XQ. Cytauxzoon felis infection in domestic cats, Yunnan Province, China, 2016. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019; 25(2):353–354
24. Sherrill MK, Cohn LA. Cytauxzoonosis: diagnosis and treatment of an emerging disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2015; 17(11):940–948.
25. Sleznikow CR, Granick JL, Cohn LA et al. Evaluation of various sample sources for the cytologic diagnosis of Cytauxzoon felis. J Vet Intern Med. 2022; 36(1):126-32.
26. Brown HM, Lockhart JM, Latimer KS, Peterson DS. Identification and genetic characterization of Cytauxzoon felis in asymptomatic domestic cats and bobcats. Vet Parasitol. 2010; 172(3–4):311–316.
27. Mylonakis ME, Schreeg M, Chatzis MK. Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in Greek cats. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018; 9(2):171-5.
28. Nagamori Y, Slovak JE, Reichard MV. Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy free-roaming cats in north-central Oklahoma and central Iowa. JFMS Open Rep. 2016; 2(1):2055116916655174.
29. Haber MD, Tucker MD, Marr HS et al. The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA. Vet Parasitol. 2007; 146:316– 320.
30. André MR, Herrera HM, de Jesus Fernandes S et al. Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2015; 6(6):779-86.
31. Criado-Fornelio A, Buling A, Pingret JL et al. Hemoprotozoa of domestic animals in France: prevalence and molecular characterization. Vet Parasitol. 2009; 159(1):73-6.
32. Díaz-Regañón D, Villaescusa A, Ayllón T et al. detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain. Parasit Vectors. 2017; 10:112.
33. Reichard MV, Baum KA, Cadenhead SC, Snider TA. Temporal occurrence and environmental risk factors associated with cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats. Vet Parasitol. 2008; 152(3-4):314-20.
34. Spada E, Proverbio D, Galluzzo P. Frequency of piroplasms Babesia microti and Cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern Italy. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:943754.
35. Rizzi TE, ReichardMV, Cohn LA, Birkenheuer AJ, Taylor JD, Meinkoth JH. Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy cats from enzootic areas in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Parasit Vectors. 2015; 8:13.
2. Wells K, Gibson DI, Clark NJ, Ribas A, Morand S, McCallum HI. Global spread of helminth parasites at the human–domestic animal–wildlife interface. Glob Chang Biol. 2018; 24: 3254–3265.
3. Clark NJ, Seddon JM, Sˇlapeta J, Wells K. Parasite spread at the domestic animal – wildlife interface: anthropogenic habitat use, phylogeny and body mass drive risk of cat and dog flea (Ctenocephalides spp.) infestation in wild mammals. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11:8.
4. Wikander YM, Reif KE. Cytauxzoon felis: an overview. Pathogens. 2023; 12(1):133.
5. Díaz-Sánchez AA, Cabezas-Cruz A. Can Domestic Cats Act as Reservoirs of Cytauxzoon felis? Pathogens. 2023; 12:266.
6. Yang TS, Reichard MV, Thomas JE et al. Transmission of Cytauxzoon felis by injection of Amblyomma americanum salivary glands. Parasitol Int. 2023; 95: 102753.
7. Zieman EA, Nielsen CK, Jiménez FA. Chronic Cytauxzoon felis infections in wild-caught bobcats (Lynx rufus). Vet Parasitol. 2018; 252: 67-9.
8. Rahmati Moghaddam M, Zaeemi M, Razmi GR. Preliminary study of Cytauxzoon felis infection in outdoor cats in Mashhad, Iran. Parasitol Res. 2020; 119:4177-4183.
9. .Cohn LA, Shaw D, Shoemake C, Birkenheuer AJ. Second illness due to subsequent Cytauxzoon felis infection in a domestic cat. JFMS Open Rep. 2020; 6(1):2055116920908963.
10. Shock BC, Murphy SM, Patton LL et al. Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states. Vet Parasitol. 2011; 175(3-4):325-30.
11. Meinkoth J, Kocan AA, Whitworth L et al. Cats surviving natural infection with Cytauxzoon felis: 18 cases (1997–1998). J Vet Intern Med. 2000; 14(5):521–525.
12. Wagner JE. A fatal cytauxzoonosis-like disease in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1976;168(7):585-8.
13. Carli E, Trotta M, Chinelli R et al. Cytauxzoon sp. infection in the first endemic focus described in domestic cats in Europe. Vet Parasitol. 2012; 183(3-4):343-52.
14. Maia LMP, Cerqueira AMF, Macieira DB et al. Cytauxzoon felis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum coinfection in a Brazilian domestic cat (Felis catus). Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. 2013; 22(2): 289–291.
15. Carli E, Trotta M, Bianchi E et al. Cytauxzoon sp. infection in two free ranging young cats: clinicopathological findings, therapy and follow up. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2014; 38(3):185–189.
16. Alho AM, Silva J, Fonseca MJ et al. First report of Cytauxzoon sp. Infection in a domestic cat from Portugal. Parasit Vectors. 2016; 9(1):220.
17. Nentwig A, Meli ML, Schrack J et al. First report of Cytauxzoon sp. infection in domestic cats in Switzerland: natural and transfusion-transmitted infections. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11(1):292.
18. Rassouli M, Sabouri S, Goudarzi A, Parsa M. Cytauxzoon felis in a stray cat in Iran. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015; 24:75-7.
19. Zaeemi M, Razmi GR, Khoshnegah J. The first detection of Cytauxzoon felis in a wild cat (Felis silvestris) in Iran. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015; 24:181-4.
20. Reichard MV, Van Den Bussche RA, Meinkoth JH et al. A new species of Cytauxzoon from pallas'cats caught in Mongolia and comments on the systematics and taxonomy of piroplasmids. J Parasitol. 2005; 91(2):420–426.
21. Varshney JP, Deshmukh VV, Chaudhary PS. Fatal cytauxzoonosis in a kitten. Intas Polivet. 2009; 10:392–393.
22. Karaca M, Akkan HA, Tutuncu M, Ozdal N, Deger S, Agaoglu ZT. Cytauxzoonosis in Van Cats. YYU Vet Fak Derg. 2007; 18(1): 37–39.
23. Zou FC, Li Z, Yang JF, Chang JY, Liu GH, Lv Y, Zhu XQ. Cytauxzoon felis infection in domestic cats, Yunnan Province, China, 2016. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019; 25(2):353–354
24. Sherrill MK, Cohn LA. Cytauxzoonosis: diagnosis and treatment of an emerging disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2015; 17(11):940–948.
25. Sleznikow CR, Granick JL, Cohn LA et al. Evaluation of various sample sources for the cytologic diagnosis of Cytauxzoon felis. J Vet Intern Med. 2022; 36(1):126-32.
26. Brown HM, Lockhart JM, Latimer KS, Peterson DS. Identification and genetic characterization of Cytauxzoon felis in asymptomatic domestic cats and bobcats. Vet Parasitol. 2010; 172(3–4):311–316.
27. Mylonakis ME, Schreeg M, Chatzis MK. Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in Greek cats. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018; 9(2):171-5.
28. Nagamori Y, Slovak JE, Reichard MV. Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy free-roaming cats in north-central Oklahoma and central Iowa. JFMS Open Rep. 2016; 2(1):2055116916655174.
29. Haber MD, Tucker MD, Marr HS et al. The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA. Vet Parasitol. 2007; 146:316– 320.
30. André MR, Herrera HM, de Jesus Fernandes S et al. Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2015; 6(6):779-86.
31. Criado-Fornelio A, Buling A, Pingret JL et al. Hemoprotozoa of domestic animals in France: prevalence and molecular characterization. Vet Parasitol. 2009; 159(1):73-6.
32. Díaz-Regañón D, Villaescusa A, Ayllón T et al. detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain. Parasit Vectors. 2017; 10:112.
33. Reichard MV, Baum KA, Cadenhead SC, Snider TA. Temporal occurrence and environmental risk factors associated with cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats. Vet Parasitol. 2008; 152(3-4):314-20.
34. Spada E, Proverbio D, Galluzzo P. Frequency of piroplasms Babesia microti and Cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern Italy. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:943754.
35. Rizzi TE, ReichardMV, Cohn LA, Birkenheuer AJ, Taylor JD, Meinkoth JH. Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy cats from enzootic areas in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Parasit Vectors. 2015; 8:13.
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| Issue | Vol 20 No 2 (2025) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Cytauxzoon felis Felids Iran Real-time PCR | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Ebrahimi Toodarvari M, Eskafian H, Staji H, Ahmadi-hamedni M. Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran. Iran J Parasitol. 2025;20(2):261-267.
