Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran

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 re...

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Main Authors: Masoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari, Hesamedin Eskafian, Hamid Staji, Mahmood Ahmadi-hamedni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Parasitology
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Online Access:https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/4470
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author Masoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari
Hesamedin Eskafian
Hamid Staji
Mahmood Ahmadi-hamedni
author_facet Masoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari
Hesamedin Eskafian
Hamid Staji
Mahmood Ahmadi-hamedni
author_sort Masoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-155cc4f85ea041b499858362db59e45f
institution DOAJ
issn 1735-7020
2008-238X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Tehran University of Medical Sciences
record_format Article
series Iranian Journal of Parasitology
spelling doaj-art-155cc4f85ea041b499858362db59e45f2025-08-20T03:16:56ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Parasitology1735-70202008-238X2025-06-0120210.18502/ijpa.v20i2.19033Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, IranMasoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari0Hesamedin Eskafian1Hamid Staji2Mahmood Ahmadi-hamedni3Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, IranDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, IranDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, IranDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran 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. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/4470Cytauxzoon felisFelidsIranReal-time PCR
spellingShingle Masoud Ebrahimi Toodarvari
Hesamedin Eskafian
Hamid Staji
Mahmood Ahmadi-hamedni
Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
Iranian Journal of Parasitology
Cytauxzoon felis
Felids
Iran
Real-time PCR
title Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
title_full Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
title_fullStr Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
title_short Cytauxzoon felis in Domestic Cats: A Molecular Study Using Real-Time PCR in Semnan, Iran
title_sort cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats a molecular study using real time pcr in semnan iran
topic Cytauxzoon felis
Felids
Iran
Real-time PCR
url https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/4470
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AT hesamedineskafian cytauxzoonfelisindomesticcatsamolecularstudyusingrealtimepcrinsemnaniran
AT hamidstaji cytauxzoonfelisindomesticcatsamolecularstudyusingrealtimepcrinsemnaniran
AT mahmoodahmadihamedni cytauxzoonfelisindomesticcatsamolecularstudyusingrealtimepcrinsemnaniran