Feline vector-borne pathogens in the north and centre of Portugal

Parasites & Vectors

Table 1 Prevalence of infection with vector-borne pathogens in cats from the north and centre of Portugal, as determined by PCR

Independent variable/category	No. of cats tested (%)	No. of positive cats (%)
		*Anaplasma/Ehrlichia*	*B. canis*	*B. vogeli*	*H. felis*	*L. infantum*	*Rickettsia*	≥1 agent(s)
Gender	320
Female	142 (44.4)	2 (1.4)	2 (1.4)	14 (9.9)	19 (13.4)	1 (0.7)	0 (0.0)	36 (25.4)
Male	178 (55.6)	0 (0.0)	2 (1.1)	12 (6.7)	31 (17.4)	0 (0.0)	4 (2.2)	44 (24.7)
Age (years)	312
[0.4-1.5]	90 (28.8)	0 (0.0)	2 (2.2)	11 (12.2)^a	13 (14.4)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	23 (25.6)
[2.0-6]	157 (50.3)	1 (0.6)	2 (1.3)	13 (8.3)	25 (15.9)	1 (0.6)	3 (1.9)	42 (26.8)
[7-20]	65 (20.8)	1 (0.6)	0 (0.0)	1 (1.5)^a	11 (16.9)	0 (0.0)	1 (0.6)	14 (21.5)
Breed	320
DSH	274 (85.6)	2 (0.7)	4 (1.5)	19 (6.9)	43 (15.7)	1 (0.4)	3 (1.1)	66 (24.1)
Pure breed	46 (14.4)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	7 (15.2)	7 (15.2)	0 (0.0)	1 (2.2)	14 (30.4)
Housing	316
Totally indoors	124 (39.2)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	7 (5.6)	20 (16.1)	0 (0.0)	2 (1.6)	26 (21.0)
Outdoors access	192 (60.8)	2 (1.0)	4 (2.1)	19 (9.9)	30 (15.6)	1 (0.5)	2 (1.0)	54 (28.1)
FeLV	117
Negative	107 (91.5)	0 (0.0)	1 (0.9)	9 (8.4)	15 (14.0)	0 (0.0)	2 (1.9)	24 (22.4)
Positive	10 (8.5)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1 (10.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1 (10.0)
FIV	117
Negative	97 (82.9)	0 (0.0)	1 (1.0)	10 (10.3)	13 (13.4)	0 (0.0)	2 (2.1)	23 (23.7)
Positive	20 (17.1)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	2 (10.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	2 (10.0)
Clinical status	300
Non-suspect	132 (44.0)	2 (1.5)	2 (1.5)	16 (12.1)	17 (12.9)	1 (0.8)	1 (0.8)	34 (25.8)
Suspect	168 (56.0)	0 (0.0)	2 (1.2)	10 (6.0)	33 (19.6)	0 (0.0)	3 (1.8)	46 (27.4)
Total	320 (100)	2 (0.6)	4 (1.3)	26 (8.1)	50 (15.6)	1 (0.3)	4 (1.3)	80 (25.0)

^ap = 0.031; B. canis: Babesia canis; B. vogeli: Babesia vogeli; DSH: domestic short-haired; FeLV: feline leukaemia virus; FIV: feline immunodeficiency virus; H. felis: Hepatozoon felis; L. infantum: Leishmania infantum; PCR: polymerase chain reaction.

ISSN: 1756-3305