Identification of Cytauxzoon felis antigens via protein microarray and assessment of expression library immunization against cytauxzoonosis

Cytauxzoonosis in Indiana, USA: a case series of cats infected with Cytauxzoon felis (2018-2022)

CASE SERIES SUMMARY

This case series describes six cases involving seven cats naturally infected with Cytauxzoon felis in Indiana, USA. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and all available information on signalment, history, clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment, outcome and pathology was reported. Cats infected with C felis were domestic shorthairs, were aged between 2 and 9 years and all but one of the cats were male. The seven infected cats originated from five counties in southwestern Indiana. Six of seven cats were found to have acute cytauxzoonosis based on clinical signs, gross pathologic lesions, observation of C felis in tissues and/or detection of C felis DNA. One cat was identified as a subclinical survivor cat with no known clinical history of cytauxzoonosis.

RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION

The reported cases are the first confirmed reports of acute and chronic cytauxzoonosis in cats from Indiana and document an expansion in the range of C felis. Veterinary practitioners in Indiana should consider infection with C felis as a differential diagnosis for cats that present with fever, inappetence, lethargy, depression, dehydration, dyspnea, hemolytic crisis, anorexia or icterus. Administration of approved acaricides to cats currently offers the best protection and control against C felis infection.

A Novel Vaccine Strategy to Prevent Cytauxzoonosis in Domestic Cats

Cytauxzoonosis is caused by Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis), a tick-borne parasite that causes severe disease in domestic cats in the United States. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent this fatal disease, as traditional vaccine development strategies have been limited by the inability to culture this parasite in vitro. Here, we used a replication-defective human adenoviral vector (AdHu5) to deliver C. felis-specific immunogenic antigens and induce a cell-mediated and humoral immune response in cats. Cats (n = 6 per group) received either the vaccine or placebo in two doses, 4 weeks apart, followed by experimental challenge with C. felis at 5 weeks post-second dose. While the vaccine induced significant cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in immunized cats, it did not ultimately prevent infection with C. felis. However, immunization significantly delayed the onset of clinical signs and reduced febrility during C. felis infection. This AdHu5 vaccine platform shows promising results as a vaccination strategy against cytauxzoonosis.

A Serodiagnostic IgM ELISA to Detect Acute Cytauxzoonosis

Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-borne infectious disease affecting domestic cats with high mortality and limited treatment modalities. Because early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are crucial to survival of infected cats, the objective of this study was to develop an ELISA capable of detecting cytauxzoonosis and differentiating acute vs. chronic infection in clinical feline blood samples. A microsphere immunoassay (MIA) was developed to evaluate the production of Cytauxzoon felis-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in serial plasma samples from cats with experimental C. felis infection by targeting a C. felis-specific transmembrane protein (c88). Recombinant c88 protein was utilized to develop indirect ELISAs to detect IgM and IgG antibodies in clinical plasma samples from: PCR-positive cats with acute C. felis infection (n = 36), C. felis-negative cats with pyrexia (n = 10), healthy C. felis-negative cats (n = 22), and chronic C. felis carriers (n = 4). Anti-c88 IgM antibodies were detectable at day 12 post-tick infestation in cats with experimental C. felis infection (within 24 hours of developing clinical signs), while anti-c88 IgG was detectable at day 15 post-tick infestation - indicating IgM could be used to detect early infection. Using a cut-off value of 19.85 percent positive, the C. felis IgM ELISA detected acute cytauxzoonosis in 94.44% (34/36) of cats presented with clinical signs of acute cytauxzoonosis with 100% specificity (indicating a "Strong Positive" result). When a lower cutoff of 8.60 percent positive was used, cytauxzoonosis was detected in the 2 remaining PCR-positive cats with 87.88% specificity (indicating of a "Weak Positive" result). One C. felis-negative, febrile cat had high IgG, and chronic carriers had variable IgM and IgG results. Combined interpretation of IgM and IgG ELISAs did not reliably differentiate acute vs. chronic infection. While further validation on assay performance is needed, the C. felis IgM ELISA is a promising test to detect acute cytauxzoonosis and can be utilized to develop a point-of-care test for clinical use.

A Nonadjuvanted Whole-Inactivated Pneumococcal Vaccine Induces Multiserotype Opsonophagocytic Responses Mediated by Noncapsule-Specific Antibodies

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) remains a major cause of global mortality, with extensive antigenic diversity between capsular serotypes that poses an ongoing challenge for vaccine development. Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) targeting Spn capsules has greatly reduced infections by vaccine-included serotypes but has led to increased infections by nonincluded serotypes. To date, high cost of PCVs has also limited their usefulness in low-income regions where disease burdens are highest. To overcome these limitations, serotype-independent vaccines are being actively researched. We have developed a whole-cell gamma-irradiated Spn vaccine (termed Gamma-PN) providing serotype-independent protection. We demonstrate that Gamma-PN immunization of mice or rabbits via the clinically relevant intramuscular route induces protein-specific antibodies able to bind numerous nonvaccine encapsulated serotypes, which mediate opsonophagocytic killing and protection against lethal challenges. Gamma-PN induced comparable or superior opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) responses in rabbits to the licensed Prevnar 13 vaccine (PCV13) for vaccine-included serotypes, and a superior response to nonincluded serotypes, including emergent 22F and 35B. Additionally, despite a lower observed reactogenicity, administration of Gamma-PN without adjuvant resulted in higher OPKA responses and improved protection compared to adjuvanted Gamma-PN. To our knowledge, this has not been demonstrated previously for a whole-inactivated Spn vaccine. Eliminating the requirement for adjuvant comes with numerous benefits for clinical applications of this vaccine and poses interesting questions for the inclusion of adjuvant in similar vaccines in development.

The repertoire of serine rhomboid proteases of piroplasmids of importance to animal and human health

Babesia, Theileria and Cytauxzoon are tick-borne apicomplexan protozoans of the order Piroplasmida, notorious for the diseases they cause in livestock, pets and humans. Host cell invasion is their Achilles heel, allowing for the development of drug or vaccine-based therapies. In other apicomplexans, cleavage of the transmembrane domain of adhesins by the serine rhomboid proteinase ROM4 is required for successful completion of invasion. In this study, we record and classify the rhomboid repertoire encoded in the genomes of 10 piroplasmid species pertaining to the lineages Babesia sensu stricto (s.s., Clade VI), Theileria sensu stricto (Clade IV), Theileria equi (Clade IV), Cytauxzoon felis (Clade IIIb) and Babesia microti (Clade I), as defined by Schnittger et al. (2012). Fifty-six piroplasmid rhomboid-like proteins were assigned by phylogenetic analysis and bidirectional best hit to the ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 or ROM8 groups, and their crucial motifs for conformation and function were identified. Forty-four of these rhomboids had either been incorrectly classified or misannotated. Babesia s.s. encode five or three ROM4 proteinase paralogs, whereas the remaining piroplasmids encode two ROM4 paralogs. All piroplasmids encode a single ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8. Thus, an increased paralog number of ROM4 is the only feature distinguishing Babesia s.s. from other piroplasmid lineages. Piroplasmid ROM6 is related to the mammalian mitochondrial rhomboid and, accordingly, N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal sequences was found in some cases. ROM6 is the only rhomboid encoded by piroplasmids that is ubiquitous in other organisms. ROM8 represents a pseudoproteinase that is highly conserved between studied piroplasmids, suggesting that it is important in regulatory functions. ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8 are exclusively present in Aconoidasida, which comprises piroplasmids and Plasmodium, suggesting a relevant functional role in erythrocyte invasion. The correct classification and designation of piroplasmid rhomboids presented in this study facilitates an informed choice for future in-depth study of their functions.

The Influence of B Cell Depletion Therapy on Naturally Acquired Immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae

The anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab to deplete CD20+ B cells is an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and B cell malignancies, but is associated with an increased incidence of respiratory infections. Using mouse models we have investigated the consequences of B cell depletion on natural and acquired humoral immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae. B cell depletion of naïve C57Bl/6 mice reduced natural IgM recognition of S. pneumoniae, but did not increase susceptibility to S. pneumoniae pneumonia. ELISA and flow cytometry assays demonstrated significantly reduced IgG and IgM recognition of S. pneumoniae in sera from mice treated with B cell depletion prior to S. pneumoniae nasopharyngeal colonization compared to untreated mice. Colonization induced antibody responses to protein rather than capsular antigen, and when measured using a protein array B cell depletion prior to colonization reduced serum levels of IgG to several protein antigens. However, B cell depleted S. pneumoniae colonized mice were still partially protected against both lung infection and septicemia when challenged with S. pneumoniae after reconstitution of their B cells. These data indicate that although B cell depletion markedly impairs antibody recognition of S. pneumoniae in colonized mice, some protective immunity is maintained, perhaps mediated by cellular immunity.

Second illness due to subsequent Cytauxzoon felis infection in a domestic cat

Case summary

A castrated male domestic shorthair cat from a wooded area in Missouri had recovered from typical severe cytauxzoonosis at 4 years of age, after intensive in-hospital supportive care and administration of atovaquone and azithromycin. At 11 years of age, the same cat again experienced an acute febrile illness compatible with cytauxzoonosis. Intraerythrocytic piroplasms typical of Cytauxzoon felis were identified by cytology. The owners opted for euthanasia but allowed collection of splenic and hepatic tissue for histopathologic examination. Schizont-laden macrophages were identified in both tissue specimens, confirming active cytauxzoonosis at the time of the cat’s death.

Relevance and novel information

Although cats that have recovered from cytauxzoonosis can harbor red blood cell piroplasms for many years without apparent clinical illness, repeat illness owing to either disease recrudescence or repeat infection has never been documented. In fact, recovered cats have been thought to be resistant to reinfection and subsequent illness. This report describes a cat that had recovered from documented cytauxzoonosis 7 years previously and then developed a subsequent clinical illness typical of cytauxzoonosis, which was accompanied not only by intraerythrocytic piroplasms, but also by schizont-laden tissue macrophages pathognomonic of clinical cytauxzoonosis.