Ectoparasites in urban stray cats in Jerusalem, Israel: differences in infestation patterns of fleas, ticks and permanent ectoparasites

Redescription of adults and first description of the larva of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) adleri Feldman-Muhsam, 1951 (Acari: Ixodidae), parasite of carnivorans in Western Asia

The adults of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) adleri Feldman-Muhsam, 1951 (Acari: Ixodidae) are redescribed and the larva of this species is described for the first time here. The adults of H. adleri that we studied were collected from various canid, felid and hyaenid carnivorans (Carnivora: Canidae, Felidae, Hyaenidae) as well as a hedgehog (Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae) in Iraq, Israel and West Bank. The males, females and larvae of H. adleri can be differentiated from Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) species occurring in the Palearctic portion of West Asia and Egypt as well those in the H. asiatica subgroup by the length of idiosomal setae, development and size of spurs on palpi, dental formula on the hypostome and size of spur on coxae. A lectotype of H. adleri has been designated and the geographic distribution and hosts of this tick species are discussed.

Field efficacy and safety of Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on for the treatment of natural ear mite infestations (Otodectes cynotis) and notoedric mange (Notoedres cati) in cats

The miticide efficacy of a single treatment with Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on solution for cats was evaluated in two European field studies. One study was conducted in cats naturally infested with Otodectes cynotis. The other study was conducted in cats naturally infested with Notoedres cati. In both studies, the presence of viable mites was confirmed prior to treatment (Day -1/Day 0) and re-evaluated on Day 14 (O. cynotis study) and on Day 28 (both studies). Efficacy was calculated based on the number of viable mites found after treatment. In the O. cynotis study, the primary criterion was the percentage of mite-free cats after treatment with Felpreva® compared to a sarolaner/selamectin combination (Stronghold® Plus, Zoetis) as a positive control. In the N. cati study, the primary criterion was the difference between arithmetic mean mite counts of cats treated with Felpreva® and cats treated with a placebo formulation (solketal). Secondary criteria in both studies were changes in clinical lesion scores after treatment. In both studies, all Felpreva®-treated cats were mite-free (100% parasitological cure) on Day 28, 4 weeks after treatment. Signs of mange on Day 28 were clinically improved in all O. cynotis-infested cats (100%) and clinically cured in all N. cati-infested cats (100%). There were no records of any adverse events or application site reactions in Felpreva®-treated cats.

Population Dynamics of Community Cats Living in a Tourist Area of Onomichi City, Japan, before and after the Trap-Test-Vaccinate-Alter-Return-Monitor Event

The community cat program (CCP) was recommended by the Ministry of the Environment to reduce cats in local animal shelters and improve stray cat welfare in Japan. It is a non-lethal control measure with stray cats cared for as free-roaming cats for their lifetime in the community, while Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) or Trap-Test-Vaccinate-Alter-Return-Monitor (TTVARM) activities are carried out. In the CCP, community cat colonies are hypothesized to be closed and static populations. However, it remains unknown whether the cats stay in the colonies, without migration of non-neutered cats following TNR/TTVARM events. We examined the population dynamics of cats before and after a TTVARM event using route censuses (107 days), fixed-point observations, and GPS-tracking in a tourist area in Onomichi. Eleven out of the 30 cats remained in the CCP areas, whereas 13 non-neutered cats immigrated into the CCP areas, within a year, suggesting the CCP program has limited efficacy. Besides, the program cannot support the lifetime management of the cats due rapid turnover of cats. Our results reject the CCP hypothesis, so that the program neither restricts cat breeding nor enhances cat welfare.

The “southeastern Europe” lineage of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) identified as Rhipicephalus rutilus Koch, 1844: Comparison with holotype and generation of mitogenome reference from Israel

The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) in the southeastern Mediterranean region and the Middle East is difficult to identify due to the presence of multiple mitochondrial DNA haplogroup lineages. The purpose of this study was to clarify the identity of the "southeastern Europe" lineage of this tick species complex. Our research shows that female ticks of the "southeastern Europe" lineage correspond to the morphology of R. rutilus Koch, 1844 as found in type-material at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in Germany. We characterised the complete mitogenomes of R. rutilus, R. turanicus Pomerantsev, 1940 and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) in order to improve our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among species within the R. sanguineus (sensu lato) complex. The material associated with the morphology of R. rutilus was previously labelled as the "southeastern Europe" lineage and found in Israel and Egypt, including Lower Egypt and the Nile Delta, where the original type-material was collected. Based on the morphology, genetic identity, and geographical distribution of the species, we conclude that the name R. rutilus is correctly linked to the "southeastern Europe" lineage of R. sanguineus (sensu lato).

Detection of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) collected from free-roaming domestic cats in southeastern Georgia, USA

The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is a competent vector of numerous bacterial pathogens in the genera Bartonella and Rickettsia. In the United States, free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) increase the risk of exposure to C. felis for humans and their companion animals. In collaboration with a trap-neuter-return program, we collected fleas from 283 feral/stray cats in southeastern Georgia between May and July of 2020. A total of 3,643 flea specimens were collected, and C. felis was the only flea species recovered from all cats sampled. The mean number of fleas per cat host was highest in the month of June when compared to May and July, and higher in juvenile cats (< 1 year) than the adults (≥ 1 year). Real-time PCR assays were used to test a subset of the collected fleas (n = 468) for the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. DNA. Among those flea pools tested, 35.2% were positive for genus-specific citrate synthase gene of Bartonella, 16.5% were positive for the genus-specific 17-kDa protein antigen gene of Rickettsia, and none were positive for the species-specific outer membrane protein B gene of Rickettsia typhi. The identification of potential flea-borne pathogens was more frequent from the subset of C. felis collected in May, and female cats had more Bartonella-positive fleas and less Rickettsia-positive fleas than male cats. Overall, the present study provides valuable insights into the frequency of C. felis from outdoor community cats in southeastern Georgia, and highlights the possible risk for human exposure to potential flea-borne pathogens.

How Serious Are Health-Related Welfare Problems in Unowned Unsocialised Domestic Cats? A Study from Denmark Based on 598 Necropsies

Free ranging unsocialised domestic cats are widely believed to suffer from a high load of welfare problems. We assessed the validity of this belief by performing necropsies on the corpses of 598 unsocialised cats, originating from all parts of Denmark, that had been euthanised by two Danish cat welfare organisations. We selected a number of variables for health-related cat welfare that could be assessed through necropsy (e.g., gross lesions, ectoparasites and body condition) or by laboratory analysis (e.g., infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and by feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)). Each finding was classified as having either a major or minor welfare impact on the cat. More than 83% of the cats had no major finding, and 54% had no finding indicating a welfare issue at all. More than 83% of the cats had a body condition within normal range. Only 0.3% were emaciated. The most common finding was infestation with ectoparasites, with 15.9% infected with lice, 12.3% with fleas, 4.7% with ticks, and 6.7% with ear mites. FIV and FeLV were detected in 9.2% and 1.2% of the cases, respectively. The most common lesion related to the cats’ teeth. Overall, unsocialised cats in Denmark have a moderate level of health-related welfare problems.

Differential characters of fleas of the genus Ctenocephalides (Siphonaptera, Pulicidae) obtained from dogs

Fleas are the common name of the order Siphonaptera, obligate provisional nidiculous parasites of mammals and, to a lesser extent, birds, which can also feed on humans. Fleas can cause ctenocephalidosis of dogs and are carriers of many dangerous infectious and invasive diseases. Their ability to use humans as an alternative host determines the importance of these parasites in health care. Therefore, the aim of the work was to establish morphological and metric characters of adult male and female fleas of the species Ctenocephalides felis Bouche, 1835 and C. canis Curtis, 1826, isolated from domestic dogs for species identification. Morphological studies of fleas have shown that the differential features of C. felis and C. canis include the shape of the head and anterior-dorsal cuticular notch on the head. Notably, male fleas of both species have a more rounded forehead than female fleas. The metric parameters of adult fleas can be used as additional identification features, which will increase the efficiency of differential diagnosis of parasitic insects. We found differences in male fleas by 23 parameters, of which the value of 17 parameters were smaller in C. canis specimens. Males of C. felis were 9.1–21.1% larger in total body length, lengths of head and thorax, as well as lengths of mesothorax and metathorax. Differential features included size of the teeth of the main ctenidium and pronotal ctenidium: in C. felis males all eight teeth of the main ctenidium, located on the left side, were longer by 12.7–41.7%, and the first, seventh, eighth teeth were wider by 25.4–43.0% than in C. canis. In female fleas, differences were found for 24 metric parameters, of which the values of 20 parameters were also smaller in C. canis specimens. Females of C. felis were 12.1–22.2% larger in terms of total body length, head, breast, prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. All their teeth of the main ctenidium were longer by 5.6–40.6%, and the first, second, third, and eighth teeth were 18.1–48.9% wider than in females of C. canis. The obtained results add to the already existing data on morphometric features of adult fleas of C. felis and C. canis species, and will allow timely and accurate diagnosis of ctenocephalidosis in dogs caused by parasites of these species.

Chorio-retinal toxoplasmosis: treatment outcomes, lesion evolution and long-term follow-up in a single tertiary center

BACKGROUND

Ocular toxoplasmosis is a common cause of ocular inflammation worldwide. The aim of this study is to characterize the clinical outcomes and lesion evolution of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis and to compare the primary and reactivation subgroups.

METHODS

A retrospective population-based cohort study at one uveitis-specialized tertiary referral center. Patients presenting with active ocular toxoplasmosis between the years 2007-2016 were included. Primary ocular toxoplasmosis and reactivations were compared.

RESULTS

Included were 22 patients, 64% female with a mean age of 29 ± 18 years, 59% (n = 13) were primary, 9% (n = 2) congenital and 32% (n = 7) reactivations. Visual acuity improved from 0.38 ± 0.44 to 0.20 ± 0.27 LogMAR (P = 0.026) after a mean of 37 ± 33 months. Initial lesion size was 2.38 ± 1.1 optic disc areas, reducing to 1.56 ± 1.24 following 2 months (34% reduction, P = 0.028) and to 1.17 ± 0.87 disc areas following one year (51% reduction, P = 0.012). Patients with macula-threatening lesions had worse visual acuity (0.50 ± 0.46 vs. 0.05 ± 0.07 LogMAR, P = 0.047). Primary and reactivation subgroups had similar presentations, visual outcomes and recurrence rates (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this population, primary ocular toxoplasmosis was the most common presentation. Lesion size reduced during the initial months with limited change thereafter and a third of cases recurred. Macula-threatening lesions were associated with worse visual acuity, and no significant differences were seen between the primary and reactivation subgroups.

A Case of Letting the Cat out of The Bag-Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat (Felis catus) Management

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, in which stray cats are captured, neutered and returned to the environment are advocated as a humane, ethical alternative to euthanasia. We review the TNR literature in light of current debate over whether or not there should be further TNR trials in Australia. We revisit the problems arising from stray cats living in association with human habitation and estimate how many stray cats would have to be processed through a scientifically-guided TNR program to avoid high euthanasia rates. We also identify 10 ethical and welfare challenges that have to be addressed: we consider the quality of life for stray cats, where they would live, whether the TNR process itself is stressful, whether TNR cats are vulnerable to injury, parasites and disease, can be medically treated, stray cats' body condition and diet, and their impacts on people, pet cats, and urban wildlife, especially endemic fauna. We conclude that TNR is unsuitable for Australia in almost all situations because it is unlikely to resolve problems caused by stray cats or meet ethical and welfare challenges. Targeted adoption, early-age desexing, community education initiatives and responsible pet ownership have greater promise to minimize euthanasia, reduce numbers rapidly, and address the identified issues.

The Biology and Ecology of Cat Fleas and Advancements in Their Pest Management: A Review

The cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché) is the most important ectoparasite of domestic cats and dogs worldwide. It has been two decades since the last comprehensive review concerning the biology and ecology of C. f. felis and its management. Since then there have been major advances in our understanding of the diseases associated with C. f. felis and their implications for humans and their pets. Two rickettsial diseases, flea-borne spotted fever and murine typhus, have been identified in domestic animal populations and cat fleas. Cat fleas are the primary vector of Bartonella henselae (cat scratch fever) with the spread of the bacteria when flea feces are scratched in to bites or wounds. Flea allergic dermatitis (FAD) common in dogs and cats has been successfully treated and tapeworm infestations prevented with a number of new products being used to control fleas. There has been a continuous development of new products with novel chemistries that have focused on increased convenience and the control of fleas and other arthropod ectoparasites. The possibility of feral animals serving as potential reservoirs for flea infestations has taken on additional importance because of the lack of effective environmental controls in recent years. Physiological insecticide resistance in C. f. felis continues to be of concern, especially because pyrethroid resistance now appears to be more widespread. In spite of their broad use since 1994, there is little evidence that resistance has developed to many of the on-animal or oral treatments such as fipronil, imidacloprid or lufenuron. Reports of the perceived lack of performance of some of the new on-animal therapies have been attributed to compliance issues and their misuse. Consequentially, there is a continuing need for consumer awareness of products registered for cats and dogs and their safety.

Molecular detection of Theileria, Babesia, and Hepatozoon spp. in ixodid ticks from Palestine

Ixodid ticks transmit various infectious agents that cause disease in humans and livestock worldwide. A cross-sectional survey on the presence of protozoan pathogens in ticks was carried out to assess the impact of tick-borne protozoa on domestic animals in Palestine. Ticks were collected from herds with sheep, goats and dogs in different geographic districts and their species were determined using morphological keys. The presence of piroplasms and Hepatozoon spp. was determined by PCR amplification of a 460-540bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene followed by RFLP or DNA sequencing. A PCR-RFLP method based on the 18S rRNA was used in order to detect and to identify Hepatozoon, Babesia and Theileria spp. A total of 516 ticks were collected from animals in six Palestinian localities. Five tick species were found: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Haemaphysalis parva and Haemaphysalis adleri. PCR-based analyses of the ticks revealed Theileria ovis (5.4%), Hepatozoon canis (4.3%), Babesia ovis (0.6%), and Babesia vogeli (0.4%). Theileria ovis was significantly associated with ticks from sheep and with R. turanicus ticks (p<0.01). H. canis was detected only in R. sanguineus s.l. and was significantly associated with ticks from dogs (p<0.01). To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of these pathogens in ticks collected from Palestine. Communicating these findings with health and veterinary professionals will increase their awareness, and contribute to improved diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases.

Current status of L. infantum infection in stray cats in the Madrid region (Spain): implications for the recent outbreak of human leishmaniosis?

Background

Since 2009, the incidence of human leishmaniosis in the SW of the Madrid region has been unusually high. Although dogs are the main reservoir for this disease, a role played by dogs in this outbreak has been ruled out and investigators are now considering other hosts (eg. cats, rabbits, hares) as possible alternative reservoirs.

This study was designed to examine the Leishmania infantum status of stray cats in Madrid to assess its possible implications in the human leishmaniosis outbreak.

Methods

346 captured stray cats were tested for antibodies against L. infantum by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) and nested-PCR methods were used to detect Leishmania DNA in blood samples of cats testing seropositive for L. infantum and/or retroviruses infection. Cats were also tested for Toxoplasma gondii using the direct agglutination test (DAT) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies (PetChek* FIV/FeLV). The presence of intestinal parasites was determined using a routine coprological method.

Results

The seroprevalence of L. infantum infection (cut off ≥ 1/100) was 3.2% (11/346). However, it was not possible to amplify Leishmania DNA in any of the blood samples. Seropositivity was not associated with sex, age, capture site, clinical status, retrovirus infection or T. gondii seropositivity. Of the 11 cats seropositive for L. infantum, 3 also tested positive for FIV, none for FeLV and 6 for T. gondii. It should be mentioned that the prevalence of FeLV p27 antigen was 4% and of FIV antibody was 9.2%. Although the seroprevalence of T. gondii was quite high at 53.5%, no T. gondii oocysts were found in any of the faeces samples analysed (n = 287). In contrast, intestinal parasites were detected in 76 (26.5%) samples, Toxocara cati being the most prevalent.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a stable L. infantum infection situation among the stray cats of the Madrid area; the disease is uncommon and no clinical cases have been reported to date. The detection of other zoonotic parasites such as T. gondii and T. cati in stray cats indicates a need to adopt strict control measures in this population.