Increasing frequency of feline cytauxzoonosis cases diagnosed in western Kentucky from 2001 to 2011

Abstract

Feline cytauxzoonosis is a rapidly progressing and usually fatal disease in domestic cats caused by the tick-borne pathogen, Cytauxzoon felis. The primary reservoir host for this protozoan parasite is the bobcat (Lynx rufus). In this retrospective study, we have examined the positive cases of feline cytauxzoonosis identified at Murray State University’s Breathitt Veterinary Center, a regional diagnostic facility located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, between January 2001 and December 2011. Center records reveal that there has been an increase in the rate of diagnosis of domestic feline infection with C. felis over that 10-year span with the majority of cases (75%) occurring between 2006–2011. The infection was diagnosed from March through October and showed a single peak in May, corresponding well with the questing period for the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, a known vector of C. felis.

Cytauxzoonosis in cats

“…14,15 In some areas of the USA an increase in cytauxzoonosis diagnoses has been observed in the past decade and it is considered an emerging disease. 13 In recent years, the infection has also been documented in Europe. Cases have been described in the Iberian lynx ( Figure 1) 10,16,17 and in domestic cats 18 in the south of Spain, and in domestic cats in France.…”

Two Tales of Cytauxzoon felis Infections in Domestic Cats

“…The most common form is a round "signet ring" form ( Fig. 1A) (16). Bipolar oval "safety pin" and round anaplasmoid bodies are less common, whereas tetrads are occasionally discovered in Giemsa-stained blood smears (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)38).…”

“…Cytauxzoon felis, the agent of cytauxzoonosis of major concern, belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa, class Sporozoasida, order Piroplasmorida, and family Theileriidae (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). For many years, it was endemic exclusively to North America, i.e., to the southern, southeastern, and mid-Atlantic states of the United States (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Only recently has it been reported in South America, i.e., in Brazil, and a few other identified species have been reported in Europe and other geographic regions (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28).…”

Coagulation abnormalities in 5 cats with naturally occurring cytauxzoonosis

“…Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging infectious disease of domestic cats that is now being successfully treated, despite earlier reports that the disease was highly fatal . Cytauxzoonosis is caused by the piroplasmid Cytauxzoon felis , which is transmitted from its natural reservoir host, bobcats, to domestic cats via tick feeding.…”