Serological and molecular evidence of exposure to arthropod-borne organisms in cats from northeastern Spain

One hundred sixty-eight cat sera from Spain were tested for IgG antibodies to Rickettsia conorii ( Rc), Ehrlichia canis ( Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum ( Ap) and Bartonella henselae ( Bh) antigens using IFA and for FeLV antigen and FIV antibody by ELISA. For 47 whole blood samples, PCR testing was performed for Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Bartonella. Seroprevalences were: Bh (71.4%), Rc (44%), Ec (11.3%), FeLV (8.5%), FIV (7.4%) and Ap (1.8%). Bh antibodies were associated with seroreactivity to both Ec and Rc antigens. FIV antibodies were associated with illness and cats older than 2 years. Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae ( Bcl) DNA was amplified from seven and one sample, respectively.