Confirmed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in companion cats with a history of tick exposure in the Republic of Korea

• Published in: Journal of veterinary science (Suwŏn-si, Korea) Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 54 - 60
• Main Authors: Han, Sun-Woo, An, Ju-Hyun, Rim, Ji-Min, Jeong, Eunseok, Noh, Sungjun, Kang, Myoungdai, Kang, Jun-Gu, Chae, Joon-Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한수의학회 2022; The Korean Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Animals; Bunyaviridae Infections - diagnosis; Bunyaviridae Infections - epidemiology; Bunyaviridae Infections - veterinary; Case Report; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cats; Pets; Phlebovirus - genetics; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - diagnosis; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - epidemiology; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - veterinary; Thrombocytopenia - veterinary; Tick-Borne Diseases - diagnosis; Tick-Borne Diseases - epidemiology; Tick-Borne Diseases - veterinary; Ticks; Republic of Korea; Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; hyperbilirubinemia; SFTSV genotype; jaundice; creatine kinase; feline SFTS patients; zoonosis
• ISSN: 1229-845X; 1976-555X
• DOI: 10.4142/jvs.22104

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.