Short communication Vector-borne infections in cats: Molecular study in Barcelona area (Spain) Maria-Dolores Tabar a, * , Laura Altet b , Olga Francino b , Armand Sa ´nchez b , Lluı ´s Ferrer a , Xavier Roura c a Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain b Molecular Genetics Veterinary Service, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain c Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain Received 30 July 2007; received in revised form 30 October 2007; accepted 30 October 2007 Abstract Previous serological surveys have reported the presence of different organisms in cats from Spain but little reports exist about the exact identity of these organisms. The purpose of the study reported here was to assess the presence of DNA of several vector-borne infections in a population of cats from Barcelona area. One hundred blood samples obtained from cats admitted to the UAB-VTH were entered into the study and classified as healthy (n = 48) or unhealthy (n = 52). EDTA-blood samples were assayed for Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. DNA by means of PCR amplification and amplicons obtained were sequenced. Prevalence of infectious agents found were Leishmania infantum (3%), Ehrlichia/Anaplasma sp. (1%), Hepatozoon felis (4%) and Bartonella clarridgeiae (1%). Cats being less than 5 years old had more probability of having at less one PCR positive result (P = 0.028). The results of this study show a low prevalence of several vector-borne pathogens among cats from Barcelona area. Although higher feline seroprevalences are previously reported, they evidenced exposure and probably overestimate the real or active degree of infection. However, it is important to maintain a high index of suspicion on these infectious diseases, both in sick and asymptomatic cats, and molecular techniques could aid in the identification of these pathogens. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Vector-borne; Infection; Cat; PCR 1. Introduction There is limited information regarding the preva- lence of infectious disease in cats from Barcelona area (Spain). The wide spectrum of disease and the emergence and re-emergence of ‘‘new’’ pathogens constitute a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The arthropod parasites most commonly encountered in cats are fleas of the family Pulicidae and ticks of the family Ixodidae, and many of them use both dogs and cats as suitable hosts (Shaw et al., 2001). The potential of fly, mite or louse species for disease transmission in cats is unknown. However, there are some reported cases of feline leishmaniosis in the veterinary literature, which probably means that sandflies are also important vectors of disease in cats (Hervas et al., 1999; Leiva et al., 2005). The diagnosis of infectious diseases in cats can be challenging. Serologic crossreactivity can exist between some microorganisms (Lappin et al., 2006; Stubbs et al., www.elsevier.com/locate/vetpar Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Veterinary Parasitology 151 (2008) 332–336 * Corresponding author. Present address: Hospital Veterinario San Vicente, Cami del Rodalet no. 17, San Vicente del Raspeig 03690 (Alicante), Spain. Tel.: +34 935 811894; fax: +34 935 81 34 28. E-mail address: lolitavet@yahoo.es (M.-D. Tabar). 0304-4017/$ – see front matter # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.019