Confirmed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in companion cats with a history of tick exposure in the Republic of Korea
Sun-Woo Han, Ju‐Hyun An, Ji-Min Rim, Eunseok Jeong, Sung‐Jun Noh, Myoungdai Kang, Jun‐Gu Kang, Joon‐Seok Chae
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a zoonotic disease, and its clinical information and prevalence are important. This study was conducted on 22 feline patients from the Republic of Korea (ROK), suspected to suffer from a tick-borne disease. Four cats were positive for SFTS, and genotypes B-1, B-3, D, and F were identified. Clinical symptoms, such as anorexia, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia, were detected. This is the first report of SFTS virus genotypes B-1, D, and F from cats in the ROK. Moreover, our results suggest that jaundice may be an indicator of SFTS in cats.
Topics & Concepts
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndromeLeukopeniaJaundiceCATSMedicineAnorexiaTickVirologyInternal medicineVirusChemotherapyViral Infections and VectorsVector-Borne Animal DiseasesFire effects on ecosystems