New records, and molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in Felicola subrostratus from eastern Mexico

AbstractThe study of lice associated with domestic cats is a neglected area of veterinary parasitology. In particular, the presence of the cat louseFelicola subrostratus, a small Ischnoceran species found in the fur of the domestic cat, is rarely recognized. In America, this species has been reported across six countries. Although it was also recently reported in Mexico, no studies on the molecular identification of the specimens or the monitoring of potential bacterial, and protozoan pathogens have been carried out. Thus, this work aimed to collect, and identify lice associated with domestic and free ranging cats from the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, using amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase subunit I (COI), and the ribosomal 18S rDNA genes, and to monitor selected vector-borne bacterial (Bartonella,Mycoplasma, andRickettsia) and protozoan (Babesia, andHepatozoon) agents. Only entire lice were used for molecular host and pathogen identification. Eighty-one lice, identified asF. subrostratus, were recovered from five infested cats, and 30 were selected for molecular identification and pathogen surveillance. Analysis of the COI and 18S rDNA partial sequences showed a similarity of 96.79% –100% with sequences ofF. subrostratus from the US.Mycoplasma haemofelis andHepatozoon canis DNA was detected in three and four samples, respectively. This work provides new collection locations forF. subrostratus, and the first sequences of the COI and 1...
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research