J Vet Sci.  2017 Dec;18(4):541-545. 10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.541.

Infections by pathogens with different transmission modes in feral cats from urban and rural areas of Korea

• Hwang J
• Gottdenker N
• Oh DH
• Lee H
• Chun MS

• KMID: 2398514
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2017.18.4.541

Abstract

In this study, we examine prevalences of three infectious pathogens with different transmission modes (Bartonella henselae, hemoplasma, and Toxoplasma gondii) in feral cats from urban and rural habitats. Infection status of the three pathogens in blood samples (n = 117) was determined through molecular or serological diagnostic methods. Overall prevalence of hemoplasma, Toxoplasma gondii, and Bartonella henselae was 47.9%, 50%, and 35.7%, respectively. Comparing the two habitats, only seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae was significantly higher in urban cats. Based on the results, we discuss how pathogens with distinct transmission modes may show different prevalence between urban and rural habitat types.

Keyword

Bartonella henselae; Toxoplasma gondii; feral cat; habitat type; hemoplasma

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bartonella henselae
Cats*
Ecosystem
Korea*
Prevalence
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Toxoplasma

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Phylogenetic relationship of the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of hemoplasmas isolated from this study and of related mycoplasmas from the GenBank database. Two sequences of “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis”, two sequences of “Mycoplasma haemofelis”, and a sequence of “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” from this study are included in the tree. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by using the neighbor-joining method. Bootstrap percentage values above 70% are provided at the nodes of the tree. GenBank accession Nos. are included in Fig. 1.

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