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Background  A  Hepatozoon  parasite was initially reported from a cat in India in 1908 and named  Leucocytozoon felis domestici . Although domestic feline hepatozoonosis has since been recorded from Europe, Africa, Asia and America, its description, classification and pathogenesis have remained vague and the distinction between different species of  Hepatozoon  infecting domestic and wild carnivores has been unclear. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey on domestic feline hepatozoonosis and characterize it morphologically and genetically.    Methods   Hepatozoon  sp. DNA was amplified by PCR from the blood of 55 of 152 (36%) surveyed cats in Israel and from all blood samples of an additional 19 cats detected as parasitemic by microscopy during routine hematologic examinations.  Hepatozoon  sp. forms were also characterized from tissues of naturally infected cats.    Results  DNA sequencing determined that all cats were infected with  Hepatozoon felis  except for two infected by  Hepatozoon canis . A significant association (p = 0.00001) was found between outdoor access and  H. felis  infection.  H. felis  meronts containing merozoites were characterized morphologically from skeletal muscles, myocardium and lungs of  H. felis  PCR-positive cat tissues and development from early to mature meront was described. Distinctly-shaped gamonts were observed and measured from the blood of these  H. felis  infected cats. Two fetuses from  H. felis  PCR-positive queens were positive by PCR from fetal tissue including the lung and amniotic fluid, suggesting possible transplacental transmission. Genetic analysis indicated that  H. felis  DNA sequences from Israeli cats clustered together with the  H. felis  Spain 1 and Spain 2 sequences. These cat  H. felis  sequences clustered separately from the feline  H. canis  sequences, which grouped with Israeli and foreign dog  H. canis  sequences . H. felis  clustered distinctly from  Hepatozoon  spp. of other mammals. Feline hepatozoonosis caused by  H. felis  is mostly sub-clinical as a high proportion of the population is infected with no apparent overt clinical manifestations.    Conclusions  This study aimed to integrate new histopathologic, hematologic, clinical, epidemiological and genetic findings on feline hepatozoonosis and promote the understanding of this infection. The results indicate that feline infection is primarily caused by a morphologically and genetically distinct species,  H. felis , which has predilection to infecting muscular tissues, and is highly prevalent in the cat population studied. The lack of previous comprehensively integrated data merits the redescription of this parasite elucidating its parasitological characteristics.

parasites and vectors

Redescription of Hepatozoon felis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) based on phylogenetic analysis, tissue and blood form morphology, and possible transplacental transmission