Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatozoon silvestris is an emerging apicomplexan parasite discovered in European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and blood samples of a domestic cat from Southern Italy in 2017. It has also been identified in Ixodes ricinus collected from a domestic cat in Wales, UK, in 2018. The clinical relevance, pathogenesis and epidemiology of this novel Hepatozoon species are not yet understood. Thus, the objective of this paper was to report and describe the first fatal case of an H. silvestris infection in a domestic cat.

Results

The cat, which originated from Switzerland, died shortly after presenting clinical signs of lethargy, weakness and anorexia. At necropsy, no specific lesions were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed a severe lympho-plasmacytic an

SUBMITTER: Kegler K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6053781 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature