Identification of a third feline Demodex species through partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA and frequency of Demodex species in 74 cats using a PCR assay. Issue 4 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferreira, Diana; Sastre, Natalia; Ravera, Iván; Altet, Laura; Francino, Olga; Bardagí, Mar; Ferrer, Lluís
• Is Part Of: Veterinary dermatology. Volume 26:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: e53
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Veterinary dermatology -- Periodicals; Pet medicine -- Periodicals; 636.08965
• DOI: 10.1111/vde.12206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4493

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="vde12206-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="vde12206-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p> <italic>Demodex cati</italic> and <italic>Demodex gatoi</italic> are considered the two <italic>Demodex</italic> species of cats. However, several reports have identified <italic>Demodex</italic> mites morphologically different from these two species. The differentiation of <italic>Demodex</italic> mites is usually based on morphology, but within the same species different morphologies can occur. DNA amplification/sequencing has been used effectively to identify and differentiate <italic>Demodex</italic> mites in humans, dogs and cats.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12206-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Hypothesis/Objectives</title> <p>The aim was to develop a PCR technique to identify feline <italic>Demodex</italic> mites and use this technique to investigate the frequency of <italic>Demodex</italic> in cats.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12206-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p> <italic>Demodex cati</italic>, <italic> D. gatoi</italic> and <italic>Demodex</italic> mites classified morphologically as the third unnamed feline species were obtained. Hair samples were taken from 74 cats. DNA was extracted; a 330 bp fragment of the 16S rDNA was amplified and sequenced.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12206-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The sequences of <italic>D. cati</italic> and <italic>D. gatoi</italic> shared >98% identity with those published on GenBank. The sequence of the third unnamed species showed 98% identity with a recently published feline <italic>Demodex</italic> sequence and only 75.2 and 70.9% identity with <italic>D. gatoi</italic> and <italic>D. cati</italic> sequences, respectively. <italic>Demodex </italic>DNA was detected in 19 of 74 cats tested; 11 DNA sequences corresponded to <italic>Demodex canis</italic>, five to <italic>Demodex folliculorum</italic>, three to <italic>D. cati</italic> and two to <italic>Demodex brevis</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12206-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and clinical importance</title> <p>Three <italic>Demodex</italic> species can be found in cats, because the third unnamed <italic>Demodex</italic> species is likely to be a distinct species. Apart from <italic>D. cati</italic> and <italic>D. gatoi</italic>, DNA from <italic>D. canis</italic>, <italic> D. folliculorum</italic> and <italic>D. brevis</italic> was found on feline skin.</p> </sec> </abstract>