Prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy cats from enzootic areas in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma

Abstract

BackgroundInfection with Cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats can cause fever, lethargy, depression, inappetence, icterus, and often death. With a high mortality rate, cytauxzoonosis was historically considered a fatal disease. Within the last 15 years, cats with or without treatment have been recognized as chronically infected survivors of C. felis infection. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of C. felis in healthy domestic cats from Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.MethodsInfection with C. felis was determined using DNA extracted from anticoagulated whole blood and PCR amplification using C. felis-specific primers. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests, and odds ratios were used to compare proportions of cats infected with C. felis.ResultsBlood samples were collected from 902 healthy domestic cats between October 2008 and April 2012. DNA from Cytauxzoon felis was detected in 56 of 902 (6.2%; 95% confidence interval, 4.7–7.9) samples. The highest prevalence of C. felis infection (15.5%; 10.3–21.7) was observed in cats from Arkansas, followed by cats from Missouri (12.9%; 6.1–24.0), and cats from Oklahoma (3.4%; 2.2–5.1). Cats sampled in Arkansas and Missouri were 5.1 and 4.2, respectively, times more likely to be chronically infected with C. felis than cats from Oklahoma.ConclusionsInfection with C. felis is common in domestic cats through Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The high prevalence of C. felis reported herein suggests that infected domestic cats are likely reservoirs of infection for naive felines. The high prevalence of C. felis substantiates the importance for the use of approved acaricides on cats to prevent cytauxzoonosis.

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. and Cytauxzoon sp. in domestic and stray cats from Madrid, Spain

“…in the Iberian Peninsula is the more abundant wildcat [35]. Interestingly, recent studies have shown infection by C. felis in healthy domestic cats, supporting the idea that not only wild felids are competent reservoirs for this Cytauxzoon [42]. European domestic cats, especially those who roam freely, could be acting as reservoirs for the Cytauxzoon sp.…”

Is the free-ranging jaguar (Panthera onca) a reservoir for Cytauxzoon felis in Brazil?

“…are protozoan hemoparasites belonging to the Piroplasmida Order that are transmitted by tick bites and infect a wide range of mammals worldwide (Meinkoth and Kocan, 2005;Penzhorn, 2006). C. felis has historically been viewed as highly fatal for domestic cats (Felis catus) while wild felids remain asymptomatic; however, recent studies have reported cats surviving infections as well as wild cats with fatal infections (Brown et al, 2010;Meinkoth et al, 2000;Nietfeld and Pollock, 2002;Rizzi et al, 2015). C. felis appears to be observed primarily in the southcentral regions of the United States of America (USA), where the disease has been extensively studied and the bob cat (Lynx rufus) has been identified as the natural reservoir of the parasite (Brown et al, 2010;Shock et al, 2013).…”

Two Tales of Cytauxzoon felis Infections in Domestic Cats

“…In addition, a real-time PCR analysis of blood samples collected from clinically healthy domestic cats with a high risk of C. felis infections in Arkansas and Georgia showed that the prevalence rate of the parasite was 30.3% (27/89 cats) (33). More recently, a study of 902 domestic cats in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma by PCR yielded a 6.2% prevalence (37). A summary of data on nonfatal and clinically normal infections of the domestic cat and other felids is shown in Table 1.…”

“…However, recent research has indicated that this scenario can also present the other way around. That is, some bobcats suffer from severe acute cytauxzoonosis, sometimes even leading to death, and in contrast, the domestic cat can be clinically normal or carry the parasite for a long period upon recovery from acute cytauxzoonosis (14,17,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37). It appears that the more we learn about the parasite and the disease, the more questions are being raised and need to be answered.…”