Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran

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

doi:10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x

Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran

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

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

19 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

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.

© The Author(s) 2025.

Original language	English
Article number	160
Journal	Parasites & Vectors
Volume	18
Online published	28 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x
Publication status	Published - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This study was supported financially by Bu-Ali Sina University under the framework of the MSc thesis projects and grant nos. 98-27, 99-187, 1400-10209, 1402-1490.

Research Keywords

Dirofilariaspp
Domestic felids
Hepatozoonspp
Leishmaniaspp
One health
Vector-borne pathogens

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Sazmand, A., Carbonara, M., Moradi, L., Almasi, P., Saruei, S., Moradi-Jam, M., Akhondi, A., Malekzadeh, P., Ghaharzade-Mahabadi, S., Bakhshani, A., Chashnigir, O., Akhtardanesh, B., Moosavian, H., Ramezani, M., Shirani, D., Perles, L., Mendoza-Roldan, J. A., Sadeghi-Dehkordi, Z., Nabavi, R., ... Otranto, D. (2025). Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran. Parasites & Vectors, 18, Article 160. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x

@article{d5a132387cce4c65a94a579c37b4e94d,

title = "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 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. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

keywords = "Dirofilariaspp, Domestic felids, Hepatozoonspp, Leishmaniaspp, One health, Vector-borne pathogens",

author = "Alireza Sazmand and Mariaelisa Carbonara and Leili Moradi and Pardis Almasi and Shiva Saruei and Mozhdeh Moradi-Jam and Anahita Akhondi and Parmida Malekzadeh and Soheila Ghaharzade-Mahabadi and Amin Bakhshani and Omid Chashnigir and Baharak Akhtardanesh and Hamidreza Moosavian and Mohammad Ramezani and Darioush Shirani and Livia Perles and Mendoza-Roldan, \{Jairo Alfonso\} and Zainab Sadeghi-Dehkordi and Reza Nabavi and Fateme Jalousian and Domenico Otranto",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "Parasites \& Vectors",

issn = "1756-3305",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

}

Sazmand, A, Carbonara, M, Moradi, L, Almasi, P, Saruei, S, Moradi-Jam, M, Akhondi, A, Malekzadeh, P, Ghaharzade-Mahabadi, S, Bakhshani, A, Chashnigir, O, Akhtardanesh, B, Moosavian, H, Ramezani, M, Shirani, D, Perles, L, Mendoza-Roldan, JA, Sadeghi-Dehkordi, Z, Nabavi, R, Jalousian, F & Otranto, D 2025, 'Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran', Parasites & Vectors, vol. 18, 160. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x

TY - JOUR

T1 - Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran

AU - Sazmand, Alireza

AU - Carbonara, Mariaelisa

AU - Moradi, Leili

AU - Almasi, Pardis

AU - Saruei, Shiva

AU - Moradi-Jam, Mozhdeh

AU - Akhondi, Anahita

AU - Malekzadeh, Parmida

AU - Ghaharzade-Mahabadi, Soheila

AU - Bakhshani, Amin

AU - Chashnigir, Omid

AU - Akhtardanesh, Baharak

AU - Moosavian, Hamidreza

AU - Ramezani, Mohammad

AU - Shirani, Darioush

AU - Perles, Livia

AU - Mendoza-Roldan, Jairo Alfonso

AU - Sadeghi-Dehkordi, Zainab

AU - Nabavi, Reza

AU - Jalousian, Fateme

AU - Otranto, Domenico

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - 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. © The Author(s) 2025.

AB - 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. © The Author(s) 2025.

KW - Dirofilariaspp

KW - Domestic felids

KW - Hepatozoonspp

KW - Leishmaniaspp

KW - One health

KW - Vector-borne pathogens

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003759269

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105003759269&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x

DO - 10.1186/s13071-025-06788-x

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 40296134

SN - 1756-3305

VL - 18

JO - Parasites & Vectors

JF - Parasites & Vectors

M1 - 160

ER -

Feline vector-borne pathogens in Iran

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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