Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and associated histologic findings in domestic cats (Felis catus)

Publication date: Available online 16 December 2019Source: Veterinary ParasitologyAuthor(s): Italo B. Zecca, Carolyn L. Hodo, Sarah Slack, Lisa Auckland, Sandy Rodgers, Keswick C. Killets, Ashley B. Saunders, Sarah A. HamerAbstractTrypanosoma cruzi is a zoonotic protozoan parasite mainly transmitted by triatomines and is known to infect a wide range of mammals. South Texas is a hotspot for triatomines, T. cruzi-infected dogs and wildlife, and local transmission to humans also occurs. However, little is known about the infection of domestic cats (Felis catus) in the United States. Given the role cats play in the ecology of T. cruzi in Mexico and South America, we hypothesized that T. cruzi infection occurs in urban cats from south Texas, sometimes associated with cardiac pathology. In 2017, 167 euthanized cats from a south Texas shelter were sampled across winter, spring, and summer. We collected whole blood and hearts from all cats, with additional tissues from a subset. Serum samples were screened for T. cruzi antibodies using two independent rapid immunochromatographic tests, and an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Cats were considered seropositive if they were positive on at least two independent serological tests. Blood clot, heart tissue and other tissues were subjected to qPCR for parasite detection and discrete typing unit (DTU) determination. Tissues from selected seropositive or PCR-positive animals and a subset of negative animals were processed routinely for his...
Source: Veterinary Parasitology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research