Coinfection with Hepatozoon felis and feline coronavirus in a domestic cat from Russia: A case report.

A 7.5-year-old male Siberian cat was presented to the veterinary clinic in Moscow for ultrasound examination. Ultrasound revealed increased echogenicity of the renal parenchyma, increased echogenicity of omentum and enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes. Also, moderate amount of effusion was found in the abdominal cavity. Fluid was obtained for microscopic examination and for PCR for feline coronavirus (FCoV). Cytology revealed aseptic neutrophilic inflammation with presence of moderate number of macrophages and lymphocytes and small number of eosinophils and plasma cells. Gamonts of Hepatozoon were observed in some neutrophils. Partial sequencing of 18S rRNA gene confirmed Hepatozoon felis infection. Furthermore, effusion sample showed positive result in PCR for FCoV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed and reported case of H. felis in a domestic cat in Russia and of its coinfection with feline coronavirus.