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Table 2 Results of pathogens investigated by PCR in ticks, fleas and cats

From: Detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern Italy

Pathogens

Number of positive ticks, fleas or cats/total number of ticks, fleas or cats (%)

Ticks

Fleasa

Feline blood

Bartonella spp.

2/73 (2.7)

20/28 (71.4)

16/42 (38.1)

Hemoplasmas

0 (0)

0 (0)

11/42 (26.2)

Rickettsia spp.

5/73 (6.8)

23/28 (82.1)

0 (0)

Ehrlichia spp./Anaplasma spp.

0 (0)

NE

0 (0)

Piroplasmid

1/73 (1.4)

NE

0 (0)

Hepatozoon felis

0 (0)

NE

0 (0)

Leishmania infantum

8/73 (10.9)

2/28 (7.1)

3/42 (7.1)

Total (%)b

14/73 (19.2)

27/28 (96.4)

18/42 (42.8)

  1. NE: not evaluated
  2. a10 single fleas and 18 flea pools (range 2–5 fleas/pool); bTotal number of specimens positive at least to one pathogen. Co-infections were counted only once