Effectiveness of a 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin polymer matrix collar in reducing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in privately owned cats.
BACKGROUND
Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and the rare Bartonella koehlerae are zoonotic pathogens, with cats being regarded as the main reservoir hosts. The spread of the infection among cats occurs mainly via fleas and specific preventive measures need to be implemented. The effectiveness of a 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin polymer matrix collar (Seresto®, Bayer Animal Health), registered to prevent flea and tick infestations, in reducing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in privately owned cats, was assessed in a prospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
In March-May 2015 [Day 0 (D0)], 204 privately-owned cats from the Aeolian Islands (Sicily) were collared (G1, n = 104) or left as controls (G2, n = 100). The bacteraemia of Bartonella spp. was assessed at enrolment (D0) and study closure (D360) by PCR and DNA sequencing both prior to and after an enrichment step, using Bartonella alpha proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM).


RESULTS
A total of 152 cats completed the study with 3 in G1 and 10 in G2 being positive for Bartonella spp. Bartonella henselae genotype I ZF1 (1.35%) and genotype II Fizz/Cal-1 (6.76%) as well as B. clarridgeiae (5.41%) were detected in cats of G2. Bartonella clarridgeiae was the only species detected in G1. Based on the yearly crude incidence of Bartonella spp. infection (i.e. 3.85% in G1 and 13.51% in G2; P = 0.03) the Seresto® collar achieved a preventative efficacy of 71.54%. The incidence of Bartonella spp. infection was more frequent in flea-infested cats (6/33, 18.18%) than in uninfested ones (7/112, 5.88%) (P = 0.036).


CONCLUSIONS
Cats living in the Aeolian Islands are exposed to B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae. The Seresto® collar provided significant risk reduction against Bartonella spp. infection in outdoor cats under field conditions. Such a preventative tool could be a key contribution for decreasing the risk of Bartonella spp. infection in cats and thus ultimately to humans.
['Greco|Grazia|G|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4338-6746', 'Brianti|Emanuele|E|', 'Buonavoglia|Canio|C|', 'Carelli|Grazia|G|', 'Pollmeier|Matthias|M|', 'Schunack|Bettina|B|', 'Dowgier|Giulia|G|', 'Capelli|Gioia|G|', 'Dantas-Torres|Filipe|F|', 'Otranto|Domenico|D|']
D000818:Animals D016470:Bacteremia D001431:Bacteriological Techniques D001473:Bartonella D001474:Bartonella Infections D002371:Cat Diseases D002415:Cats D058267:Flea Infestations D015994:Incidence D007306:Insecticides D008137:Longitudinal Studies D000073943:Neonicotinoids D009574:Nitro Compounds D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction D011446:Prospective Studies D011722:Pyrethrins D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA D012802:Sicily
Flumethrin Bartonella henselae Bartonella clarridgeiae Prevention Genotype ZF1 Incidence Feline VBDs Fizz/Cal1 Phylogeny Pyrethroids