Cytauxzoon felis Infection in Domestic Cats, Yunnan Province, China, 2016

We performed a molecular survey for Cytauxzoon felis infection in 311 domestic cats in Yunnan Province, China, in 2016 and found a prevalence of 21.5%.C. felis infection in domestic and wild cats in other provinces should be investigated to determine parasite prevalence and genetic diversity among cats throughout China.C ytauxzoonosis is a tickborne hemoprotozoal disease of both domestic cats and wild felids caused mainly by Cytauxzoon felis protozoa (1,2).In the late 1900s, C. felis protozoa were reported exclusively in North America, particularly in the mid-Atlantic states of the United States (3), but in the early 2000s, this pathogen was reported in some countries of South America, and in Europe, several other Cytauxzoon species were identified (4).Cytauxzoonosis of domestic cats has long been considered contagious and deadly (2).However, as research progressed, the virulence of different C. felis isolates was found to be inconsistent; some cats were able to survive the infection and potentially serve as natural reservoirs (5).The number of pet cats around the world is increasing, but the information about the prevalence of C. felis infection in domestic cats is limited worldwide.Because of the seriousness of feline cytauxzoonosis and its geographic expansion to more and more regions, informing veterinarians, pet owners, and the general public about this disease has become imperative.The objective of this study was to examine whether C. felis infection is present in domestic cats in China.