Feline Cytauxzoonosis (Pyroplasms)

Question 1

What are the 4 feline pyroplasms?

Answer 1

1. Babesia felis (Africa)
2. Babesia canis presentii (Isreal)
3. Babesia canis canis (Europe)
4. Cytauxzoon felis (USA)

Question 2

Where (geographically) is Cytauxzoon felis most commonly seen?

Answer 2

South Eastern US

Question 3

What is the reservoir for Cytauxzoon felis?

Answer 3

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Question 4

What is the vector for Cytauxzoon felis?

Answer 4

Dermacentor variabilis/ American Dog Tick (common in the western US)

Question 5

Which species are the hosts for Cytauxzoon felis?

Answer 5

• Wild cats
• Domestic cats
  
  • Dead-end (short parasitemia + death)
  • Most have it and are okay
  • Cats need to be bit by a tick that was on an infected bobcat

Question 6

What time of the year is Cytauxzoon felis most prevalent?

Answer 6

March to September

Question 7

In what kind of environment can you find Cytauxzoon felis?

Answer 7

Outdoor, wooded environments

Question 8

What kind of agent is Cytauxzoon felis?

Answer 8

Intraerythrocyte protozoa

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of cytauxzoonosis?

Answer 9

• 2-3 weeks to develop signs
• Acute illness, death within 5 days (very few have survived)
• Anorexia and lethargy
• Dyspnea
• Icterus and dark urine*
• Shock
• Death

Question 10

How do you diagnose a cat with supsected cytauxzoonosis?

Answer 10

• Suspect
  
  • Outdoor cat with ticks in endemic area
  • Severe icterus, not so severe anemia
• Pyroplasms in RBC
  
  • Sick before erythrocyte phase (before parasitemia)
  • False negatives
• FNA*
  
  • Schizogenous tissue phase
  • Spleen, liver, lungs
  • Bone marrow
  • Lymph nodes

Question 11

How do you treat a cat with cytauxzoonosis?

Answer 11

• Most cats die
• Cats in some areas may survive (geography more than anything else)
• Imidocarb

Question 12

How is cytauxzoonosis in cats prevented?

Answer 12

Strict tick control!