Canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Italy: current situation and perspectives

Parasites & Vectors

Table 2 Vector-borne pathogens affecting cats in Italy.

Pathogen	Vector(s) ^a	Geographical distribution
Anaplasma phagocytophilum	Ixodes ricinus (?), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (?)	S [86]
Bartonella henselae	Ctenocephalides felis (?)	N [94, 95]
Bartonella clarridgeiae	C. felis (?)	N [72]
Dirofilaria immitis	Culex spp. (?)	N [34, 96]
Dipylidium caninum	C. felis	C, S [97]
Acanthocheilonema grassii	R. sanguineus (?)	C [98]
Leishmania infantum	Phlebotomus perniciosus (?), Phlebotomus spp. (?)	C [31, 32]
Rickettsia felis ^b	C. felis (?)	N [26]
Thelazia callipaeda	Phortica variegata (?)	N, S [61]

Abbreviations: C, central Italy; N, northern Italy; S, southern Italy.
^a Question mark (?) indicates "suspected vector" to cats.
^b Rickettsia felis DNA has been detected in C. felis fleas, but no evidence of infection in cats has been shown [26]. The pathogenic role of R. felis in cats is yet to be demonstrated [99].

ISSN: 1756-3305