Cytauxzoon felis infections are present in bobcats (Lynx rufus) in a region where cytauxzoonosis is not recognized in domestic cats

Birkenheuer, Adam J.; Marr, Henry S.; Warren, Camille; Acton, Anne E.; Mucker, Eric M.; Humphreys, J. G.; Tucker, Melissa D.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.01.020

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Interestingly, we detected a low prevalence of C. felis in North Dakota which is the first report of C. felis in any felid from this state, as well as the most northerly report of C. felis. Previously, the most northerly report was Pennsylvania (Birkenheuer et al, 2008). In addition, we detected C. felis in a cougar from Louisiana, which represents the first report of C. felis in a cougar outside of the Florida panther population (Butt et al, 1991;Yabsley et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…In general, high prevalence rates (31-60%) were reported from bobcats from Oklahoma in the 1980s (Kier et al, 1982a,b;Kocan et al, 1985;Blouin et al, 1987). Similarly, a relatively high prevalence rate (33%) was reported in North Carolina (Birkenheuer et al, 2008). A significantly higher prevalence was detected in North Carolina (63%) in the current study, but this could be attributed to sampling in areas with higher densities of A. americanum.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 37%

“…Experimental studies indicate that some bobcats can develop acute cytauxzoonosis when inoculated with schizogenous stages of the parasite, but no clinical signs were observed when the bobcats were inoculated with the intraerythrocytic stages (Kier et al, 1982b;Glenn et al, 1983) Similarly, bobcats experimentally infected via tick transmission typically have a limited schizogenous phase which leads to a long-term subclinical parasitemia (Blouin et al, 1987). Few studies have examined the prevalence of the parasite within bobcat populations, but high prevalences have been reported in Oklahoma (31-60%) and North Carolina (33%) and a low prevalence was reported in Pennsylvania (7%) (Glenn et al, 1982;Glenn et al, 1983;Kocan et al, 1985;Birkenheuer et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

Shock

Murphy

Patton

et al. 2011

Veterinary Parasitology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 37%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

Shock

Murphy

Patton

et al. 2011

Veterinary Parasitology

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“…Epizootically and geographically, the occurrence of cytauxzoonosis cases correlates best with the known activity (Reichard et al 2008) and distribution (Birkenheuer et al 2008) of A. americanum, not D. variabilis. It has been shown that bobcats, the reservoir host of C. felis, harbor the parasite in areas of the country that have no documented cases of cytauxzoonosis in domestic felines or known populations of A. americanum (Birkenheuer et al 2008). It is possible that other species of ticks are involved or that there are alternate routes (e.g., transplacental) for the transmission of C. felis to felines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…It is possible that other species of ticks are involved or that there are alternate routes (e.g., transplacental) for the transmission of C. felis to felines. Birkenheuer et al (2008) also noted that the distribution of cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats overlaps that of I. scapularis. Reichard et al (2009) attempted to transmit C. felis with I. scapularis and was unsuccessful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Confirmation of <I>Amblyomma americanum</I> (Acari: Ixodidae) as a Vector for <I>Cytauxzoon felis</I> (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae) to Domestic Cats

Reichard

Edwards

Meinkoth

et al. 2010

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Amblyomma americanum was confirmed as a competent vector in the transmission of Cytauxzoon felis to domestic cats. Infection with C. felis was produced and replicated in four domestic felines by the bite of A. americanum adults that were acquisition fed as nymphs on a domestic cat that survived cytauxzoonosis. Numerous attempts to transmit C. felis with Dermacentor variabilis at the same time were not successful. All cats upon which infected A. americanum were transmission fed exhibited disease typical of cytauxzoonosis, and the eitiologic agent's presence was confirmed. Clinical signs including fever, inappetence, depression, and lethargy were observed beginning 13 d postinfestation. Pale mucus membranes, splenomegaly, icterus, and dyspnea were also observed during the course of the disease. Rectal temperatures of the C. felis-infected principal cats fluctuated from high to subnormal before returning to the normal range. Clinical signs of cytauxzoonsis improved by 24 d postinfestation in all but one cat, with survivors remaining parasitemic and subclinically infected with C. felis. Unengorged A. americanum and D. variabilis were collected from wild habitats to determine the minimum infection rate of C. felis in ticks from an enzootic area. Infection of C. felis was found only in wild-collected A. americanum. The minimum infection rate of C. felis in A. americanum was 0.5% (one of 178) in males, 0.8% (three of 393) in nymphs, and 1.5% (three of 197) in females. We found no wild-collected D. variabilis infected with C. felis. Our results confirm that A. americanum is a primary vector of C. felis.

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Efficacy of an Imidacloprid 10 % / Flumethrin 4.5 % Collar (Seresto®, Bayer) for Preventing the Transmission of Cytauxzoon felis to Domestic Cats by Amblyomma americanum

et al. 2013

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Infection of Cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats produces a severe disease characterised by fever, lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, depression, dehydration, icterus and often death. Transmission of C. felis to cats is dependent on being fed upon by infected Amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks). The purpose of the present study was to determine if application of a 10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin collar (Seresto®, Bayer) on cats prevents transmission of C. felis by repelling ticks. Twenty cats were randomised to either a treated (n = 10) or non-treated control group (n = 10) based on their susceptibility to ticks. Cats of high, medium and low tick susceptibility were represented in both groups. Treated cats were fitted with 10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin collars on study day 0 and both groups were then infested with C. felis-infected A. americanum on study day 30. Tick thumb counts were performed at 24 and 48 hours post infestation. Transmission of C. felis was determined by examining blood of cats by DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification with piroplasm-specific primers. Ticks did not attach to any of the 10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin- treated cats. However, ticks attached and fed on all the non-treated control cats. The geometric mean number of ticks attached to the non-treated control cats at 24 and 48 hours was 15.3 and 14.2, respectively. Cytauxzoon felis was transmitted to 9 of 10 (90 %) non-treated control cats; C. felis was not transmitted to any of the treated cats. Transmission of C. felis to the non-treated cats was first detected between 8 and 16 days post infestation. Our results indicate that application of the 10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin collar to cats prevented ticks from attaching, feeding and transmitting C. felis.

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Cytauxzoon felis infections are present in bobcats (Lynx rufus) in a region where cytauxzoonosis is not recognized in domestic cats

Cited by 39 publications

References 11 publications

Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states

Confirmation of <I>Amblyomma americanum</I> (Acari: Ixodidae) as a Vector for <I>Cytauxzoon felis</I> (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae) to Domestic Cats

Efficacy of an Imidacloprid 10 % / Flumethrin 4.5 % Collar (Seresto®, Bayer) for Preventing the Transmission of Cytauxzoon felis to Domestic Cats by Amblyomma americanum

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