References

Acevedo TSP, Ramírez LM, Restrepo RLG. Uveitis and glaucoma associated with Hepatozoon canis infection: a case report. Rev Colomb Cienc Pecu. 2010; 23:485-491

Aktas M, Özübek S. Transstadial transmission of Hepatozoon canis by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in field conditions. J Med Entomol. 2017; 54:(4)1044-1048 https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjx050

Amoli AR, Khoshnegah J, Razmi G. A preliminary parasitological survey of hepatozoon spp. Infection in dogs in Mashhad, Iran. Iran J Parasitol. 2012; 7:(4)99-103

Attipa C, Papasouliotis K, Solano-Gallego L, Baneth G Prevalence study and risk factor analysis of selected bacterial, protozoal and viral, including vector-borne, pathogens in cats from Cyprus. Parasit Vectors. 2017; 10:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2063-2

Attipa C, Maguire D, Solano-Gallego L, Szladovits B, Barker EN, Farr A, Baneth G, Tasker S. Hepatozoon canis in three imported dogs: a new tickborne disease reaching the United Kingdom. Vet Rec. 2018; 183:(23)716-716 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105087

Baneth G. Perspectives on canine and feline hepatozoonosis. Vet Parasitol. 2011; 181:(1)3-11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.04.015

Baneth G, Weigler B. Retrospective case-control study of hepatozoonosis in dogs in Israel. J Vet Intern Med. 1997; 11:(6)365-370 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1997.tb00482.x

Baneth G, Aroch I, Tal N, Harrus S. Hepatozoon species infection in domestic cats: A retrospective study. Vet Parasitol. 1998; 79:(2)123-133 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4017(98)00160-5

Baneth G, Samish M, Shkap V. Life cycle of Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) in the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus and domestic dog (Canis familiaris). J Parasitol. 2007; 93:(2)283-299 https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-494R.1

Baneth G, Sheiner A, Eyal O, Hahn S, Beaufils JP, Anug Y, Talmi-Frank D. Redescription of Hepatozoon felis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) based on phylogenetic analysis, tissue and blood form morphology, and possible transplacental transmission. Parasit Vectors. 2013; 6:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-6-102

Baker JL, Craig TM, Barton CL, Scott DW. Hepatozoon canis in a dog with oral pyogranulomas and neurologic disease. Cornell Vet. 1988; 78:(2)179-183

Basso W, Görner D, Globokar M, Keidel A, Pantchev N. First autochthonous case of clinical Hepatozoon felis infection in a domestic cat in Central Europe. Parasitol Int. 2019; 72 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2019.101945

Beaufils JP, Martin-Granel J, Jumelle P. Hepatozoon spp. parasitemia and feline leukemia virus infection in two cats. Feline Pract. 1998; 26:10-13

Criado-Fornelio A, Buling A, Pingret JL Hemoprotozoa of domestic animals in France: prevalence and molecular characterization. Vet Parasitol. 2009; 159:(1)73-76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.10.012

De Bonis A, Colombo M, Terragni R, Bacci B, Morelli S, Grillini M, Vignoli M. Potential role of Hepatozoon canis in a fatal systemic disease in a puppy. Pathogens. 2021; 10:(9) https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091193

Díaz-Regañón D, Villaescusa A, Ayllón T Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain. Parasit Vectors. 2017; 10:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2056-1

Duplan F, Davies S, Filler S Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., haemoplasma species and Hepatozoon spp. in ticks infesting cats: a large-scale survey. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2789-5

Giannelli A, Ramos RAN, Di Paola G, Mencke N, Dantas-Torres F, Baneth G, Otranto D. Transstadial transmission of Hepatozoon canis from larvae to nymphs of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Vet Parasitol. 2013; 196:(1-2)1-5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.017

Giannelli A, Latrofa MS, Nachum-Biala Y Three different Hepatozoon species in domestic cats from southern Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2017; 8:(5)721-724 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.05.005

Guo WP, Xie GC, Xue ZQ, Yu JJ, Jian R, Du LY, Li YN. Molecular detection of Hepatozoon canis in dogs and ticks in Shaanxi province, China. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020; 72 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101514

Hodžić A, Alić A, Prašović S, Otranto D, Baneth G, Duscher GG. Hepatozoon silvestris sp. nov.: morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of Hepatozoon (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) from the European wild cat (Felis silvestris silvestris). Parasitology. 2017; 144:(5)650-661 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182016002316

Kegler K, Nufer U, Alic A, Posthaus H, Olias P, Basso W. Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2992-4

Kruzeniski SJ, Tam FM, Burgess HJ. Pathology in practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013; 243:(12)1705-1707 https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.243.12.1705

Kwon SJ, Kim YH, Oh HH, Choi US. First Case of Canine Infection with Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) in the Republic of Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2017; 55:(5)561-564 https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2017.55.5.561

Little L, Baneth G. Cutaneous Hepatozoon canis infection in a dog from New Jersey. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2011; 23:(3)585-588 https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638711404156

Lloret A, Addie DD, Boucraut-Baralon C Cytauxzoonosis in cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2015; 17:(7)637-641 https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15589878

Maia C, Ferreira A, Nunes M, Vieira ML, Campino L, Cardoso L. Molecular detection of bacterial and parasitic pathogens in hard ticks from Portugal. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2014; 5:(4)409-414 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.01.009

Marchetti V, Lubas G, Baneth G, Modenato M, Mancianti F. Hepatozoonosis in a dog with skeletal involvement and meningoencephalomyelitis. Vet Clin Pathol. 2009; 38:(1)121-125 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-165X.2008.00080.x

Morelli S, Diakou A, Traversa D First record of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats in Greece. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2021; 12:(1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101580

Murata T, Inoue M, Tateyama S, Taura Y, Nakama S. Vertical transmission of Hepatozoon canis in dogs. J Vet Med Sci. 1993; 55:(5)867-868 https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.55.867

Pacifico L, Braff J, Buono F Hepatozoon canis in hunting dogs from Southern Italy: distribution and risk factors. Parasitol Res. 2020; 119:(9)3023-3031 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06820-2

Potter TM, Macintire DK. Hepatozoon americanum: an emerging disease in the south-central/southeastern United States. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2010; 20:(1)70-76 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00508.x

Qurollo B. Feline vector-borne diseases in North America. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2019; 49:(4)687-702 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.012

Sasanelli M, Paradies P, Lubas G, Otranto D, de Caprariis D. Atypical clinical presentation of coinfection with Ehrlichia, Babesia and Hepatozoon species in a dog. Vet Rec. 2009; 164:(1)22-23 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.164.1.22

Simonato G, Franco V, Salvatore G First autochthonous clinical case of Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat in Italy with unusual presentation. Parasit Vectors. 2022; 15:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05534-x

Tabar MD, Altet L, Francino O, Sánchez A, Ferrer L, Roura X. Vectorborne infections in cats: molecular study in Barcelona area (Spain). Vet Parasitol. 2008; 151:(2-4)332-336 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.019

In: Traversa D, Venco L (eds). Milan: Point Veterinaire; 2018

Van Amstel S. Hepatozoönose in ‘n kat. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 1979; 50:(3)215-216

Vilhena H, Martinez-Díaz VL, Cardoso L Feline vector-borne pathogens in the north and centre of Portugal. Parasit Vectors. 2013; 6:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-6-99

Vilhena H, Tvarijonaviciute A, Cerón JJ, Vieira L, Pastor J, Silvestre-Ferreira AC. Acute phase proteins response in cats naturally infected with Hepatozoon felis and Babesia vogeli. Vet Clin Pathol. 2017; 46:(1)72-76 https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12451

Voyvoda H, Pasa S, Uner A. Clinical Hepatozoon canis infection in a dog in Turkey. J Small Anim Pract. 2004; 45:(12)613-617 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2004.tb00184.x

Infectious disease
Parasitology

Clinical features of hepatozoonosis in dogs and cats

02 February 2023
Clinical
6 mins read
02 February 2023
Volume 14 · Issue 1
Figure 1. Romanowsky-stained blood smear showing Hepatozoon canis gamont in a neutrophil (1000X). - From Traverso and Venco (2018).

Abstract

Canine and feline vector-borne diseases are emerging diseases caused by a multitude of worldwide distributed pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths) and transmitted by ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, sandflies and mosquitoes). They are important because of their increasing prevalence and distribution, great pathogenic potential in companion animals and the zoonotic potential of some of them. Among vector-borne diseases, hepatozoonosis is a neglected but emerging tick-borne disease of dogs and cats. It is caused by different protozoa species belonging to the genus Hepatozoon and is characterized by variable clinical pictures, from subclinical and subtle to potentially life-threatening signs. Data on the biology, epidemiology, clinical features and treatment of canine and feline hepatozoonosis are still limited and the disease is often overlooked in clinical settings. This article discusses the current literature on clinical aspects of canine and feline hepatozoonosis, to increase awareness of this disease.

Vector-borne diseases of dogs and cats transmitted by arthropods, e.g. fleas, ticks, sandflies and mosquitoes, are caused by infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. These agents may cause subclinical to potentially fatal clinical pictures and some have a zoonotic potential. Despite vector-borne diseases being of primary relevance in small animal medicine, some of them are still overlooked and underestimated. This is the case for canine and feline hepatozoonosis, which is an emerging vector-borne disease caused by different protozoa species of the genus Hepatozoon (Baneth, 2011; Amoli et al, 2012). Species within this genus are not strictly species-specific, as Hepatozoon americanum infects dogs, Hepatozoon felis and Hepatozoon silvestris infect cats, while Hepatozoon canis (the most widely known species) infects both animals (Baneth, 2011; Giannelli et al, 2017; Hodžić et al, 2017; Guo et al, 2020; Pacifico et al, 2020; Morelli et al, 2021).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting The Veterinary Nurse and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

cats
dogs
hepatozoonosis
ticks
vector-borne diseases