Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran
Abstract Background Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) are common in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions for arthropod perpetuation coupled with limited preventive measures. However, data regarding the actual burden of these infections among cats are st...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850132783220916224 |
|---|---|
| author | Alireza Sazmand Mariaelisa Carbonara Leili Moradi Pardis Almasi Shiva Saruei Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam Anahita Akhondi Parmida Malekzadeh Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi Amin Bakhshani Omid Chashnigir Baharak Akhtardanesh Hamidreza Moosavian Mohammad Ramezani Darioush Shirani Livia Perles Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi Reza Nabavi Fateme Jalousian Domenico Otranto |
| author_facet | Alireza Sazmand Mariaelisa Carbonara Leili Moradi Pardis Almasi Shiva Saruei Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam Anahita Akhondi Parmida Malekzadeh Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi Amin Bakhshani Omid Chashnigir Baharak Akhtardanesh Hamidreza Moosavian Mohammad Ramezani Darioush Shirani Livia Perles Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi Reza Nabavi Fateme Jalousian Domenico Otranto |
| author_sort | Alireza Sazmand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) are common in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions for arthropod perpetuation coupled with limited preventive measures. However, data regarding the actual burden of these infections among cats are still scarce compared with dogs. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence of FeVBPs infections in Iran. Methods From December 2018 to February 2023, a total of 848 cats of both sexes, different ages, and with outdoor lifestyle living in 7 provinces of Iran were blood sampled and molecularly screened for Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp., Dirofilaria spp., and Leishmania spp. Results Overall, 5.4% of cats scored positive for at least one VBP, with Hepatozoon spp. being the most common (3.8%), followed by Leishmania spp. (2.5%) and Dirofilaria immitis (0.7%). The Hepatozoon-positive cats lived in localities from the eastern, western, and central-northern regions; most of them (n = 25) were infected by Hepatozoon felis, and the remaining (n = 3) by Hepatozoon canis. Leishmania spp.-infected cats were detected from the east, center, and west of the country, while D. immitis-positive animals lived in central-north areas. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of vector-borne pathogens in cats in Iran. The circulation of several VBPs, including those with zoonotic potential (i.e., D. immitis and Leishmania spp.) highlights the importance of endo- and ectoparasite control measures in owned cats and suggests that controlling the population of feral animals (e.g., through spaying and neutering campaigns) would contribute to reducing the risk of transmission of VBPs. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de0564ed966b422da3b03212f9f2ab8e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-de0564ed966b422da3b03212f9f2ab8e2025-08-20T02:32:07ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-04-0118111010.1186/s13071-025-06788-xFeline vector-borne pathogens in IranAlireza Sazmand0Mariaelisa Carbonara1Leili Moradi2Pardis Almasi3Shiva Saruei4Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam5Anahita Akhondi6Parmida Malekzadeh7Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi8Amin Bakhshani9Omid Chashnigir10Baharak Akhtardanesh11Hamidreza Moosavian12Mohammad Ramezani13Darioush Shirani14Livia Perles15Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan16Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi17Reza Nabavi18Fateme Jalousian19Domenico Otranto20Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of MashhadDr. Chashnigir Veterinary ClinicDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar UniversityDepartment of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina UniversityDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariAbstract Background Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) are common in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions for arthropod perpetuation coupled with limited preventive measures. However, data regarding the actual burden of these infections among cats are still scarce compared with dogs. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence of FeVBPs infections in Iran. Methods From December 2018 to February 2023, a total of 848 cats of both sexes, different ages, and with outdoor lifestyle living in 7 provinces of Iran were blood sampled and molecularly screened for Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp., Dirofilaria spp., and Leishmania spp. Results Overall, 5.4% of cats scored positive for at least one VBP, with Hepatozoon spp. being the most common (3.8%), followed by Leishmania spp. (2.5%) and Dirofilaria immitis (0.7%). The Hepatozoon-positive cats lived in localities from the eastern, western, and central-northern regions; most of them (n = 25) were infected by Hepatozoon felis, and the remaining (n = 3) by Hepatozoon canis. Leishmania spp.-infected cats were detected from the east, center, and west of the country, while D. immitis-positive animals lived in central-north areas. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of vector-borne pathogens in cats in Iran. The circulation of several VBPs, including those with zoonotic potential (i.e., D. immitis and Leishmania spp.) highlights the importance of endo- and ectoparasite control measures in owned cats and suggests that controlling the population of feral animals (e.g., through spaying and neutering campaigns) would contribute to reducing the risk of transmission of VBPs. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-xDomestic felidsVector-borne pathogensDirofilaria spp.Hepatozoon spp.Leishmania spp.One health |
| spellingShingle | Alireza Sazmand Mariaelisa Carbonara Leili Moradi Pardis Almasi Shiva Saruei Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam Anahita Akhondi Parmida Malekzadeh Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi Amin Bakhshani Omid Chashnigir Baharak Akhtardanesh Hamidreza Moosavian Mohammad Ramezani Darioush Shirani Livia Perles Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi Reza Nabavi Fateme Jalousian Domenico Otranto Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran Parasites & Vectors Domestic felids Vector-borne pathogens Dirofilaria spp. Hepatozoon spp. Leishmania spp. One health |
| title | Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran |
| title_full | Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran |
| title_fullStr | Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran |
| title_short | Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran |
| title_sort | feline vector borne pathogens in iran |
| topic | Domestic felids Vector-borne pathogens Dirofilaria spp. Hepatozoon spp. Leishmania spp. One health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alirezasazmand felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT mariaelisacarbonara felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT leilimoradi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT pardisalmasi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT shivasaruei felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT mozhdehmoradijam felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT anahitaakhondi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT parmidamalekzadeh felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT soheilaghaharzademahabadi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT aminbakhshani felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT omidchashnigir felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT baharakakhtardanesh felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT hamidrezamoosavian felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT mohammadramezani felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT darioushshirani felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT liviaperles felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT jairoalfonsomendozaroldan felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT zainabsadeghidehkordi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT rezanabavi felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT fatemejalousian felinevectorbornepathogensiniran AT domenicootranto felinevectorbornepathogensiniran |