scholarly journals A Molecular Survey on Neglected Gurltia paralysans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Infections in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Southern Chile

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1195
Author(s):  
Natasha Barrios ◽  
Marcelo Gómez ◽  
Macarena Zanelli ◽  
Lisbeth Rojas-Barón ◽  
Paulina Sepúlveda-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽  
Factors Associated

Gurltia paralysans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are neglected metastrongyloid nematode species which infect domestic and wild cats in South American countries and in Chile, but no epidemiological studies on concomitant infections have been conducted in Chile so far. The aim of this study was not only to evaluate the occurrence of concomitant infections, but also to identify epidemiological risk factors associated with of G. paralysans and A. abstrusus infections in urban domestic cats (Felis catus) from Southern Chile. Blood samples from clinically healthy domestic cats from three cities of Southern Chile—Temuco, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt—were analyzed by an experimental semi-nested PCR protocol. A total of 171 apparently healthy domestic cats in Temuco (n = 68), Valdivia (n = 50), and Puerto Montt (n = 53) were sampled and analyzed. A total of 93 domestic cats (54.4%) were positive for G. paralysans, and 34 (19.9%) were positive for A. abstrusus infections. From those animals, 34 (19.9%) were co-infected. Cats positive with G. paralysans were found in all three cities; 47.2% in Puerto Montt, 48% in Valdivia, and 64.7% in Temuco. Levels of infection for A. abstrusus in the population under study were 4% (Valdivia), 10% (Puerto Montt), and 32.4% (Temuco). The present large-scale epidemiological study confirmed the presence of these neglected nematodes in domestic cat populations in Southern Chile, and described the possible risk factors associated with feline gurltiosis and aelurostrongylosis.

Do prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) change their activity and space use in response to domestic cat (Felis catus) excreta?

Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Keane ◽  
Phillip J. Long ◽  
Yasmeen Fleifil ◽  
Nancy G. Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Space Use ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Odor Cues ◽  
Risk Of Predation

AbstractBehavioral changes that reduce the risk of predation in response to predator-derived odor cues are widespread among mammalian taxa and have received a great deal of attention. Although voles of the genus Microtus are staples in the diet of many mammalian predators, including domestic cats (Felis catus), there are no previous studies on vole space utilization and activity levels in response to odor cues from domestic cats. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate responses of adult prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) living in semi-natural habitats to odor cues from domestic cat excreta. Contrary to expectations, neither adult males or females showed significant changes in space use or willingness to enter traps in response to cat odors. One hypothesis to explain our results are that prairie voles have not co-evolved with domestic cats long enough to respond to their odors. Other possible explanations include whether levels of odors in the environment were sufficient to trigger a response or that the perceived risk of predation from odor cues alone did not outweigh relative costs of changing space use and activity levels. Future studies should consider multiple factors when determining what cues are sufficient to elicit antipredatory behavior.

Large-scale seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Bluetongue virus in Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 104994
Author(s):  
Mehran Bakhshesh ◽  
Vahid Otarod ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Fallah Mehrabadi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Factors Associated

Risk factors associated with reoperation in posterior cervical fusions: A large-scale retrospective analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 105828
Author(s):  
Royce W. Woodroffe ◽  
Logan C. Helland ◽  
Andrew J. Grossbach ◽  
Kirill V. Nourski ◽  
Patrick W. Hitchon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Factors Associated

scholarly journals Evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs from households in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. I. Patterson ◽  
G. Elia ◽  
A. Grassi ◽  
A. Giordano ◽  
C. Desario ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Antibody Titers

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 emerged from animals and is now easily transmitted between people. Sporadic detection of natural cases in animals alongside successful experimental infections of pets, such as cats, ferrets and dogs, raises questions about the susceptibility of animals under natural conditions of pet ownership. Here, we report a large-scale study to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection in 919 companion animals living in northern Italy, sampled at a time of frequent human infection. No animals tested PCR positive. However, 3.3% of dogs and 5.8% of cats had measurable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers, with dogs from COVID-19 positive households being significantly more likely to test positive than those from COVID-19 negative households. Understanding risk factors associated with this and their potential to infect other species requires urgent investigation.

scholarly journals Acute Cytauxzoon felis Cases in Domestic Cats from Eastern Kansas, a Retrospective Case-Control Study (2006–2019)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Yvonne M. Wikander ◽  
Qing Kang ◽  
Kathryn E. Reif
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Unrelated Control ◽  
Cytauxzoon Felis

Cytauxzoon felis, a tick-borne hemoprotozoal pathogen of felids, causes an acute, often-fatal disease in domestic cats. While public awareness of the disease has increased, few studies have evaluated the incidence of acute cytauxzoonosis cases and their associated risk factors. The objective of this study was to retrospectively review records of cats diagnosed with acute cytauxzoonosis in eastern Kansas from 2006–2019 using clinic records and determine: (i) feline cytauxzoonosis risk factors; and (ii) if cytauxzoonosis case incidence is increasing. Although inter-annual variation of acute cytauxzoonosis diagnosis was observed in the eastern Kansas domestic cat population, the overall incidence trend remained largely unchanged over the 14-year case review period. In comparison to ill (C. felis-unrelated) control cases, more acute cytauxzoonosis cases were diagnosed in spring and summer, suggesting a seasonal fluctuation of infection, with samples most commonly submitted from ≥1 year old, owned, male cats. Although cytauxzoonosis case submissions remained consistent over the broad study period, increasing tick vector and domestic cat reservoir populations may contribute to additional cytauxzoonosis case expansion in endemic areas. Investigating the incidence of acute cytauxzoonosis, patient risk factors, and ecological variables that influence disease transmission are important steps towards developing and communicating the need for effective cytauxzoonosis control strategies for high-risk cat populations.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Domestic Cat Population of Germany

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 772
Author(s):  
Anna Michelitsch ◽  
Donata Hoffmann ◽  
Kerstin Wernike ◽  
Martin Beer
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Transmission Cycle

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are popular companion animals that live in close contact with their human owners. Therefore, the risk of a trans-species spreading event between domestic cats and humans is ever-present. Shortly after the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its rapid spread around the world, the role of domestic cats in the transmission cycle was questioned. In the present study, the first large-scale survey of antibody occurrence in the domestic cat population in Germany was conducted, in order to assess the incidence of naturally occurring human to cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 920 serum samples, which were collected from April to September of 2020, were screened by an indirect multispecies ELISA. Positive samples were verified using an indirect immunofluorescence test (iIFT) and additionally tested for neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, serum samples were screened for antibodies against feline coronavirus (FCoV), in order to rule out cross-reactivity in the described test systems. Overall, 0.69% (6/920) of serum samples were found to be positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by ELISA and iIFT. Two of these reactive sera also displayed neutralizing antibodies. No cross-reactivity with FCoV-specific antibodies was observed. The finding of SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positive serum samples in the domestic cat population of Germany, during a period when the incidence of human infection in the country was still rather low, indicates that human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 happens, but there is no indication of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in cats.

scholarly journals Dietary fibre and the importance of the gut microbiota in feline nutrition: a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristel Rochus ◽  
Geert P. J. Janssens ◽  
Myriam Hesta
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Fibre ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Plant Fibre ◽  
Potential Benefits

Domestic cats are obligate carnivores and in this light hindgut fermentation has been considered unimportant in this species. However, a diverse microbiota has been found in the small and large intestines of domestic cats. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo studies support the hypothesis that microbial fermentation is significant in felines with potential benefits to the host. Results on microbiota composition and microbial counts in different regions of the feline gastrointestinal tract are compiled, including a description of modulating host and technical factors. Additionally, the effects of dietary fibre supplementation on the microbiota composition are described. In a second section, in vitro studies, using inocula from fresh feline faeces and focusing on the fermentation characteristics of diverse plant substrates, are described. In vivo studies have investigated the effects of dietary fibre on a broad range of physiological outcomes. Results of this research, together with studies on effects of plant fibre on colonic morphology and function, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and the effects of plant fibre on disease conditions that require a decrease in dietary protein intake, are shown in a third section of the present review. Conclusively, for fructans and beet pulp, for example, diverse beneficial effects have been demonstrated in the domestic cat. Both dietary fibre sources are regularly used in the pet food industry. More research is warranted to reveal the potential benefits of other fibre sources that can be used on a large scale in feline diets for healthy and diseased cats.

scholarly journals METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO EVALUATION AND PREDICTION OF INDIVIDUAL RISK TO HEALTH UNDER THE EXPOSURE TO A COMPLEX OF DIFFERENT FACTORS FOR TASKS OF PERSONALIZED PROPHYLAXIS

2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Marina A. Zemlyanova ◽  
N. V. Zaytseva ◽  
D. A. Kiryanov ◽  
O. Yu. Ustinova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Model Library ◽  
Genetic Status ◽  
Somatic Status ◽  
The Individual

Methodical approaches to the assessment and prediction of the individual risk for the development of diseases associated with the effect of a complex of heterogeneous factors, taking into account the features of the genetic and somatic status of the individual for the tasks of personalized prevention, are suggested. The conceptual basis of the methodology is the presentation of the individual risk for diseases as a quantity that varies with time depending on the level and duration of the exposure of the acting factors (evolution), with respect to the contribution of natural causes. There is presented a model describing the evolution of individual risk, which takes into account a complex system of dependencies of the indices of the body’s somatic state and genetic status on the variable exposure of factors. To assess the value of the individual risk, there are proposed a scale and a system of criteria for the assessment of the likelihood of the development of the disease with taking account of its severity. The established value of the individual risk in relation to a specific disease determines the list, scope and sequence of measures for the personalized prevention, and is also a measure of their effectiveness. A large-scale epidemiological study of the population (about 10 thousand people) from 12 regions of the Russian Federation was executed. There was obtained a system of dependencies which reflects the cause-effect relationships between indices characterizing the factors of habitat and lifestyle, the body’s somatic and genetic status (more than 500 indices), the probability of diseases associated with risk factors (about 20 nosological forms). There was created a special replenished information resource «Model Library» has been created, including parameters of more than 4 thousand adequate and reliable dependencies of cause-effect relationships, revealed by relying upon the results of own epidemiological studies and analysis of domestic and foreign scientific publications. An algorithm for the estimation and prediction the individual risk has been developed for the formation of personalized prevention programs aimed at its reducing. The algorithm is implemented in the form of an information and analytical system that can be used as a tool for making managerial decisions in the field of personalized prevention of diseases associated with risk factors at the group and population levels.

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