[en] OVERVIEW: Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species and Rickettsia species are vector-borne pathogens infecting a wide variety of mammals, but causing disease in very few of them. Infection in cats: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the most important feline pathogen among these rickettsial organisms, and coinfections are possible. Little information is available on the pathogenesis of these agents in cats. Clinical signs are usually reported soon after tick infestation. They are mostly non-specific, consisting of fever, anorexia and lethargy. Joint pain may occur. Infection in humans: Some rickettsial species ( A phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis) are of zoonotic concern. Direct contact with cat saliva should be avoided because of potential contamination by R felis. Infected cats are 'sentinels' of the presence of rickettsial pathogens in ticks and fleas in a given geographical area, and they signal a risk for people exposed to vectors.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Pennisi, Maria Grazia
Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina
Radford, Alan D.
Tasker, Severine
Belak, Sandor
Addie, Diane D.
Boucraut-Baralon, Corine
Egberink, Herman
Frymus, Tadeusz
Gruffydd-Jones, Tim
Hartmann, Katrin
Horzinek, Marian C.
Hosie, Margaret J.
Lloret, Albert
Lutz, Hans
Marsilio, Fulvio
Thiry, Etienne ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Virologie vétérinaire et maladies virales animales
Allison RW, Little SE. Diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in dogs and cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2013; 42: 127–144.
Adaszek L, Górna M, Skrzypczak M. Three clinical cases of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in cats in Poland. J Feline Med Surg 2013; 15: 333–337.
Ebani VV, Bertelloni F. Serological evidence of exposure to Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Central Italian healthy domestic cats. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5: 668–671.
Persichetti MF, Solano-Gallego L, Serrano L. Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9: 247.
Solano-Gallego L, Hegarty B, Espada Y. Serological and molecular evidence of exposure to arthropod-borne organisms in cats from northeastern Spain. Vet Microbiol 2006; 118: 274–277.
Ayllón T, Diniz PP, Breitschwerdt EB. Vector borne diseases in client-owned and stray cats from Madrid, Spain. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012; 12: 143–149.
Hamel D, Bondarenko A, Silaghi C. Seroprevalence and bacteremia of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cats from Bavaria and Lower Saxony (Germany). Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2012; 125: 163–167.
Elfving K, Malmsten J, Dalin AM. Serological and molecular prevalence of Rickettsia helvetica and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in wild cervids and domestic mammals in the central parts of Sweden. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15: 529–534.
Magnarelli LA, Bushmich SL, Ijdo JW. Seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cats. Am J Vet Res 2005; 66: 1895–1899.
Billeter SA, Spencer JA, Griffin B. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in domestic felines in the United States. Vet Parasitol 2007; 147: 194–198.
Hegarty BC, Qurollo BA, Thomas B. Serological and molecular analysis of feline vector-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis using species-specific peptides and PCR. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8: 320.
Bergmann M, Englert T, Stuetzer B. Prevalence of selected rickettsial infections in cats in Southern Germany. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2015; 42: 33–36.
Sainz A, Roura X, Miró G. Guideline for veterinary practitioners on canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in Europe. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8: 75.
Lima MLF, Soares PT, Ramos CAN. Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys in a naturally-infected cat in Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2010; 41: 381–385.
Qurollo BA, Balakrishnan N, Cannon CZ. Co-infection with Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella koehlerae and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in a cat diagnosed with splenic plasmacytosis and multiple myeloma. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16: 713–720.
Sasaki H, Ichikawa Y, Sakata Y. Molecular survey of Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma infection of domestic cats in Japan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012; 3: 307–310.
Zobba R, Anfossi AG, Visco S. Cell tropism and molecular epidemiology of Anaplasma platys-like strains in cats. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6: 272–280.
Breitschwerdt EB, Abrams-Ogg AC, Lappin MR. Molecular evidence supporting Ehrlichia canis-like infection in cats. J Vet Intern Med 2002; 16: 642–649.
Oliveira LS, Mourão LC, Oliveira KA. Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in cats in Brazil. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009; 15: 53–54.
Braga M, André MR, Freschi CR. Molecular and serological detection of Ehrlichia spp. in cats on São Luís island, Maranhaão, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2012; 21: 37–41.
Braga IA, Santos LG, Melo AL. Hematological values associated to the serological and molecular diagnostic in cats suspected of Ehrlichia canis infection. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2013; 22: 470–474.
Braga IA, Santos LG, Ramos DG. Detection of Ehrlichia canis in domestic cats in the central-western region of Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2014; 45: 641–645.
Maia C, Ramos C, Coimbra M. Bacterial and protozoal agents of feline vector-borne diseases in domestic and stray cats from southern Portugal. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7: 115.
André MR, Herrera HM, Fernandes Sde J. Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6: 779–786.
Aguirre E, Tesouro MA, Amusatequi I. Assessment of feline ehrlichiosis in central Spain using serology and a polymerase chain reaction technique. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2004; 1026: 103–105.
Ortuño A, Gauss CB, Garaa F. Serological evidence of Ehrlichia spp. exposure in cats from northeastern Spain. J Vet B Infect Dis Vet Public Health 2005; 52: 246–248.
Diniz PP, Schulz BS, Hartmann K. “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” infection in a dog from Germany. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49: 2059–2062.
Hofmann-Lehmann R, Wagmann N, Meli ML. Detection of ‘Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' and other Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae in Canidae in Switzerland and Mediterranean countries. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2016; 158: 691–700.
Brouqui P, Parola P, Fournier PE. Spotted fever rickettsioses in southern and eastern Europe. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 2007; 49: 2–12.
Alves AS, Milhano N, Santos-Silva M. Evidence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in domestic, shelter and stray cat blood and fleas, Portugal. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009; 15: 1–3.
Vilhena H, Martinez-Díaz V, Cardoso L. Feline vector-borne pathogens in the north and centre of Portugal. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6: 99.
Segura F, Pons I, Miret J. The role of cats in the eco-epidemiology of spotted fever group diseases. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7: 353.
Case JB, Chomel B, Nicholson W. Serological survey of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in pet cats and cats from animal shelters and feral colonies. J Feline Med Surg 2006; 8: 111–117.
Wedincamp J, Jr Foil LD. Vertical transmission of Rickettsia felis in the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis Bouché). J Vector Ecol 2002; 27: 96–101.
Silaghi C, Knaus M, Rapti D. Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, haemotropic mycoplasmas and other arthropod-borne pathogens in cats from Albania. Parasit Vectors 2012; 7: 62.
Márquez FJ, Muniain MA, Rodríquez-Liebana JJ. Incidence and distribution pattern of Rickettsia felis in peridomestic fleas from Andalusia, Southeast Spain. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006; 1078: 344–346.
Wedincamp J, Jr Foil LD. Infection and seroconversion of cats exposed to cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis Bouché) infected with Rickettsia felis. J Vector Ecol 2000; 25: 123–126.
Hawley JR, Shaw SE, Lappin MR. Prevalence of Rickettsia felis DNA in the blood of cats and their fleas in the United States. J Feline Med Surg 2007; 9: 258–262.
Lappin MR, Hawley J. Presence of Bartonella species and Rickettsia species DNA in the blood, oral cavity, skin and claw beds of cats in the United States. Vet Dermatol 2009; 20: 509–514.
Lappin MR, Chandrashekar R, Stillman B. Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi infection in cats after exposure to wild-caught adult Ixodes scapularis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2015; 27: 522–525.
Jameson LJ, Medlock JM. Tick surveillance in Great Britain. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011; 11: 403–412.
Claerebout E, Losson B, Cochez C. Ticks and associated pathogens collected from dogs and cats in Belgium. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6: 183.
Pennisi MG, Persichetti MF, Serrano L. Ticks and associated pathogens collected from cats in Sicily and Calabria (Italy). Parasit Vectors 2015; 8: 512.
ECDC. Tick species – distribution maps. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/vectors/vector-maps/Pages/VBORNET-maps-tick-species.aspx (accessed October 1, 2106).
Spada E, Proverbio D, Galluzzo P. Molecular study on selected vector-borne infections in urban stray colony cats in northern Italy. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16: 684–688.
Foley JE, Leutenegger CM, Dumler JS. Evidence for modulated immune response to Anaplasma phagocytophila sensu lato in cats with FIV-induced immunosuppression. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2003; 26: 103–113.
Bjöersdorff A, Svendenius L, Owens JH. Feline granulocytic ehrlichiosis – a report of a new clinical entity and characterization of the infectious agent. J Small Anim Pract 1999; 40: 20–24.
Lappin MR, Breitschwerdt EB, Jensen WA. Molecular and serological evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in cats in North America. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004; 225: 893–896.
Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, Graf F, von Loewenich FD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a cat in Switzerland. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2009; 151: 336–341.
Heikkilä HM, Bondarenko A, Mihalkov A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a domestic cat in Finland: case report. Acta Vet Scand 2010; 52: 62.
Savidge C, Ewing P, Andrews J. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection of domestic cats: 16 cases from northeastern USA. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18: 85–91.
Tarello W. Microscopic and clinical evidence for Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum infection in Italian cats. Vet Rec 2005; 156: 772–774.
Pratt G, Goodyear O, Moss P. Immunodeficiency and immunotherapy in multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol 2007; 138: 563–579.
Lappin MR, Breitschwerdt ER. Ehrlichia spp. infection (feline monocytotropic ehrlichiosis). In Greene CE, (ed). Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. St Louis, MO: Elsevier, 2012, pp 238–241.
Bayliss D, Morris AK, Horta MC. Prevalence of Rickettsia species antibodies and Rickettsia species DNA in the blood of cats with and without fever. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11: 266–270.
Ishak AM, Radecki S, Lappin MR. Prevalence of Mycoplasma haemofelis, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum”, Bartonella species, Ehrlichia species, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in the blood of cats with anemia. J Feline Med Surg 2006; 9: 1–7.
Harvey JW, Simpson CF, Gaskin JM. Cyclic thrombocytopenia induced by a Rickettsia-like agent in dogs. J Infect Dis 1978; 137: 182–188.
Pennisi MG, Hartmann K, Addie DD. Blood transfusion in cats. ABCD guidelines for minimising risks of infectious iatrogenic complications. J Feline Med Surg 2015; 17: 589–593.
