biostudies-literatureSimonato GUniversità degli Studi di Padova440https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9685847biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Hepatozoon spp. is the causative agent of a vector-borne parasitic disease in many animal species. In felids, Hepatozoon felis, Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon silvestris have been molecularly isolated. Hepatozoonosis usually causes asymptomatic infections in domestic cats, but clinical cases have recently been reported in Europe. We describe the first Italian case of hepatozoonosis in a cat with an unusual presentation. An 11-year-old neutered European shorthair cat was urgently hospitalized for intestinal intussusception. Hematology, biochemistry, FIV-FeLV tests, blood smears and molecular investigation targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. were performed on blood samples; in addition, histological and molecular investigations were performed to analyze surgical samples to identiParasites & vectorsFirst autochthonous clinical case of Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat in Italy with unusual presentation.PMC9685847BIRD193835, 2019Franco VZini EDotto GGelain MECavicchioli LGrillini MSimonato GMorelli SSalvatore GManzocchi SfalseFirst autochthonous clinical case of Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat in Italy with unusual presentation.Hepatozoon spp. is the causative agent of a vector-borne parasitic disease in many animal species. In felids, Hepatozoon felis, Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon silvestris have been molecularly isolated. Hepatozoonosis usually causes asymptomatic infections in domestic cats, but clinical cases have recently been reported in Europe. We describe the first Italian case of hepatozoonosis in a cat with an unusual presentation. An 11-year-old neutered European shorthair cat was urgently hospitalized for intestinal intussusception. Hematology, biochemistry, FIV-FeLV tests, blood smears and molecular investigation targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. were performed on blood samples; in addition, histological and molecular investigations were performed to analyze surgical samples to identi2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-05T00:44:30.973Z2025-04-05T00:44:30.973ZS-EPMC96858473641913410.1186/s13071-022-05534-x