Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong

A. Almendros; Y. R. Choi; T. L. Leung; W. Y. J. Tam; D. Hernandez Muguiro; F. M. Woodhouse; J. J. Gray; J. A. Beatty; V. R. Barrs

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102278

Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong

A. Almendros^*, Y. R. Choi, T. L. Leung, W. Y. J. Tam, D. Hernandez Muguiro, F. M. Woodhouse, J. J. Gray, J. A. Beatty, V. R. Barrs

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

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Abstract

Domestic cats are susceptible to infection with at least 11 species of Babesia. In Hong Kong, where dogs are commonly infected with B. gibsoni, a single infection in a cat by a novel species, B. hongkongensis, was reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Babesia spp. detection in cats in Hong Kong. Residual blood-derived DNA from healthy free-roaming community cats (n = 239), and privately-owned cats with and without anaemia undergoing diagnostic investigations (n = 125) was tested for Babesia spp. DNA using a pan-Babesia PCR targeting mitochondrial Cytochrome B, and a B. hongkongensis specific PCR targeting 18S rRNA. Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing and comparative sequence analysis against the GenBank nucleotide database. Babesia hongkongensis was detected in 4/239 (1.7 %) community cats, and 0/125 (0.0 %) privately-owned cats. Babesia gibsoni was detected in 0/239 community cats and 1/125 (0.8 %) privately-owned cats. Cats infected with B. hongkongensis were clinically healthy at the time of sampling. The B. gibsoni-infected cat was anaemic and thrombocytopenic. Cats in Hong Kong can be infected with B. hongkongensis and B. gibsoni, albeit at low frequency. The tick vector for B. hongkongensis is yet to be identified. © 2023 The Author(s)

Original language	English
Article number	102278
Journal	Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Volume	15
Issue number	1
Online published	16 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102278
Publication status	Published - Jan 2024

Research Keywords

Babesia
Feline babesiosis
Prevalence
Tick fever
Tick-borne infection

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title = "Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong",

abstract = "Domestic cats are susceptible to infection with at least 11 species of Babesia. In Hong Kong, where dogs are commonly infected with B. gibsoni, a single infection in a cat by a novel species, B. hongkongensis, was reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Babesia spp. detection in cats in Hong Kong. Residual blood-derived DNA from healthy free-roaming community cats (n = 239), and privately-owned cats with and without anaemia undergoing diagnostic investigations (n = 125) was tested for Babesia spp. DNA using a pan-Babesia PCR targeting mitochondrial Cytochrome B, and a B. hongkongensis specific PCR targeting 18S rRNA. Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing and comparative sequence analysis against the GenBank nucleotide database. Babesia hongkongensis was detected in 4/239 (1.7 %) community cats, and 0/125 (0.0 %) privately-owned cats. Babesia gibsoni was detected in 0/239 community cats and 1/125 (0.8 %) privately-owned cats. Cats infected with B. hongkongensis were clinically healthy at the time of sampling. The B. gibsoni-infected cat was anaemic and thrombocytopenic. Cats in Hong Kong can be infected with B. hongkongensis and B. gibsoni, albeit at low frequency. The tick vector for B. hongkongensis is yet to be identified. {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s)",

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author = "A. Almendros and Choi, {Y. R.} and Leung, {T. L.} and Tam, {W. Y. J.} and {Hernandez Muguiro}, D. and Woodhouse, {F. M.} and Gray, {J. J.} and Beatty, {J. A.} and Barrs, {V. R.}",

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T1 - Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong

AU - Almendros, A.

AU - Choi, Y. R.

AU - Leung, T. L.

AU - Tam, W. Y. J.

AU - Hernandez Muguiro, D.

AU - Woodhouse, F. M.

AU - Gray, J. J.

AU - Beatty, J. A.

AU - Barrs, V. R.

PY - 2024/1

Y1 - 2024/1

N2 - Domestic cats are susceptible to infection with at least 11 species of Babesia. In Hong Kong, where dogs are commonly infected with B. gibsoni, a single infection in a cat by a novel species, B. hongkongensis, was reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Babesia spp. detection in cats in Hong Kong. Residual blood-derived DNA from healthy free-roaming community cats (n = 239), and privately-owned cats with and without anaemia undergoing diagnostic investigations (n = 125) was tested for Babesia spp. DNA using a pan-Babesia PCR targeting mitochondrial Cytochrome B, and a B. hongkongensis specific PCR targeting 18S rRNA. Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing and comparative sequence analysis against the GenBank nucleotide database. Babesia hongkongensis was detected in 4/239 (1.7 %) community cats, and 0/125 (0.0 %) privately-owned cats. Babesia gibsoni was detected in 0/239 community cats and 1/125 (0.8 %) privately-owned cats. Cats infected with B. hongkongensis were clinically healthy at the time of sampling. The B. gibsoni-infected cat was anaemic and thrombocytopenic. Cats in Hong Kong can be infected with B. hongkongensis and B. gibsoni, albeit at low frequency. The tick vector for B. hongkongensis is yet to be identified. © 2023 The Author(s)

AB - Domestic cats are susceptible to infection with at least 11 species of Babesia. In Hong Kong, where dogs are commonly infected with B. gibsoni, a single infection in a cat by a novel species, B. hongkongensis, was reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Babesia spp. detection in cats in Hong Kong. Residual blood-derived DNA from healthy free-roaming community cats (n = 239), and privately-owned cats with and without anaemia undergoing diagnostic investigations (n = 125) was tested for Babesia spp. DNA using a pan-Babesia PCR targeting mitochondrial Cytochrome B, and a B. hongkongensis specific PCR targeting 18S rRNA. Positive samples were confirmed by sequencing and comparative sequence analysis against the GenBank nucleotide database. Babesia hongkongensis was detected in 4/239 (1.7 %) community cats, and 0/125 (0.0 %) privately-owned cats. Babesia gibsoni was detected in 0/239 community cats and 1/125 (0.8 %) privately-owned cats. Cats infected with B. hongkongensis were clinically healthy at the time of sampling. The B. gibsoni-infected cat was anaemic and thrombocytopenic. Cats in Hong Kong can be infected with B. hongkongensis and B. gibsoni, albeit at low frequency. The tick vector for B. hongkongensis is yet to be identified. © 2023 The Author(s)

KW - Babesia

KW - Feline babesiosis

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KW - Tick fever

KW - Tick-borne infection

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DO - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102278

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 37979475

SN - 1877-959X

VL - 15

JO - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

JF - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

IS - 1

M1 - 102278

ER -

Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong

Abstract

Research Keywords

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