Feline vector-borne diseases: from local risks to global concerns
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Updated: May 22, 2025

Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: August 25, 2018
Domenico Otranto1, Mariaelisa Carbonara2, Gad Baneth3
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract:
Although vector-borne pathogens infect cats worldwide, historical research efforts on this topic have been hampered by the belief that cats are less susceptible than dogs to these infections. Additionally, limited data are available on the epidemiology, clinical presentation and zoonotic importance of feline vector-borne diseases (FVBDs). This review discusses and updates the current geographical distribution of FVBDs, along with their clinical features, diagnosis, treatments, and prevention measures, highlighting the key differences between these diseases in cats and dogs and identifying the research needed to address existing knowledge gaps.
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