Infectious Flashcards
What larval stage is the infective stage of heartworm disease?
L3
How long does it take to see microfilaria on testing in heartworm infection?
6-8 months because this is how long it takes for adults to mature and reproduce
Dogs/cats are more efficient at clearing heartworm larvae in immature stages
Cats
What is the only FDA approved adulticide for treatment of heartworm disease?
Melarsomine
Piroplasms/piriform inclusions are seen in RBCs with what disease
Babesia
Remember piro means pear
Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Bartonella are ERYTHROCYTIC/LEKOCYTIC/THROMBOCYTIC/EXTRACELLULAR/ENDOTHELIAL
Erythrocytic
Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Hepatazoon are ERYTHROCYTIC/LEKOCYTIC/THROMBOCYTIC/EXTRACELLULAR/ENDOTHELIAL
Leukocytic
A. platys is ERYTHROCYTIC/LEKOCYTIC/THROMBOCYTIC/EXTRACELLULAR/ENDOTHELIAL
Thrombocytic
Borrelia is ERYTHROCYTIC/LEKOCYTIC/THROMBOCYTIC/EXTRACELLULAR/ENDOTHELIAL
Extracellular
Rickettsia is ERYTHROCYTIC/LEKOCYTIC/THROMBOCYTIC/EXTRACELLULAR/ENDOTHELIAL
Endothelial
Rhipicephalus sanguineus/”Brown dog tick” carries what dieases?
Babesia sp.
Ehrlichia canis
Bartonella vinsonii ss berkhoffi
Amblyoma ammericanum/”Lone star tick” carries what diseases?
Ehrlichia chaffensis
Ehrlichia ewingii
Cytauxzoonosis
Ixodes scapularis/”eastern black leg tick” carries what diseases?
Babesia sp.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Borrelia
Dermacentor variabilis/”American dog tick” carries what diseases?
Babesia sp.
Rock mountain spotted fever
Cytauxzoonosis
Is Babesia zoonotic?
NO - species that infect cats and dogs have not been found to infect people
What subspecies of Babesia canis are most prevalent in North America?
Babesia canis vogeli
Babesia gibsoni
What breed of dogs are inherently susceptible to Babesia canis vogeli?
Greyhounds
What breed of dogs are associated with increased rates of Babesia gibsoni infection?
Pitbulls
This is thought to be b/c transmission is more from fighting (and less from ticks)
T/F: Babesia felis is common in cats in the US
False - rare, most common in cats in South Africa
What is the infective form of Babesia canis that is transmitted in tick saliva?
Sporozoites - this is the form that penetrates RBCs
What is the circulating form of Babesia canis in dogs?
Merozoites
Sporozoites will undergo merogony (binary fission) in RBCs then lyse the RBC and be released as merozoites
Where does the sexual phase of Babesia canis happen in the tick?
Midgut
What are clinical signs of Babesia?
Lethargy
Anorexia
Weakness
Pyrexia
Weight loss
Less common signs are seizures, paresis, ataxia, masticatory myositis, ascites, edema, hemorrhage, respiratory distress
You are examining a greyhound presenting for anorexia, lethargy, and weight loss. You note pyrexia and splenomegaly. What infectious ddx should be on your list?
Babesia canis
What PE findings might you see with Babesia canis?
SPLENOMEGALY
Pyrexia
+/- pigmenturia (bilirubinuria, hemoglobuinuria)
What hematologic changes might you see on CBC in a dog with Babesia?
Thrombocytopenia - most common
Anemia
What are the mechanisms of anemia in Babesiosis?
Immune mediated destruction
Osmotically fragile erythrocytes –> hemolysis
Direct injury to RBCs by Babesia
Cyclic nucleotides, oxidative injury - increased urinary methemoglobinuria; inhibition of erythrocytes 5’-nucleosidase leading to cyclic nucleotides; increased production of superoxide; lipid peroxidation
Activation of Kallikrein system –> excess fibrinogen-like proteins develop –> sticky RBCs leading to vascular stasis
What are the two mechanisms through which Babesia causes thrombocytopenia?
Immune-mediated destruction
Consumption (coagulation, DIC)
What is the cause of most clinical signs of Babesia?
Tissue hypoxia
Complicated Babesiosis is mostly associated with what subspecies?
B. canis rossi
What is one infectious (tick borne) ddx for acute pancreatitis?
Complicated babesiosis
T/F: Serology for Babesia is highly sensitive
False - low sensitivity; has cross reactivity; 36% of PCR positive dogs had negative serology in one study
What is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic for diagnosis of Babesia?
PCR - serial sampling 2-4 weeks apart will increase sensitivity, especial in chronically infected dogs
How is Babesia canis treated?
Imidocarb diproprionate (MOA unclear) - 2 IM injections 2 weeks apart
What are side effects of Imidocarb?
Anticholinergic effects - SLUDDE (salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, diarrhea, emesis; also shivering)
What can you pre-treat with prior to Imidocarb to prevent anticholinergic effects?
Atropine - can give SC to decrease side effects
T/F: Imidocarb clears B. gibsoni
False - doesn’t clear B. gibsoni or conrade but decreases morbidity and mortality
How is Babesia gibsoni treated?
Atovaquone + Azithromycin
What is the MOA of atovaquone?
Inhibits mitochondrial electron transport chain
What is the MOA of azithromycin
Binds 50S subunit of ribosomes to block translation of mRNA
Why shouldn’t you use atovaquone as a single agent?
Can develop resistance
What are the major side effects of atovaquone and how can they be minimized?
GI signs
Liquid formulation causes less GI upset
If you’re unsure what species of Babesia you have, what should you treat with?
Atovaquone + azithromycin
Signet ring-shaped piroplasms are seen with what parasite?
Cytauxzoon
What is the main species of Cytauxzoon we worry about?
C. felis
Where is Cytauxzoon most commonly found
Southeastern US
What is the reservoir host for cytauxzoon
Bobcat
What are the two main vectors for Cytauxzoon
Amblyomma americanum (Lone star tick)
Dermacenter variabilis
Where in the tick does the sexual phase of reproduction happen with Cytauxzoon
Midgut
What is the infective form of Cytauxzoon
Sporozoites