Abstract
Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of domestic and wild felids produced by infection of Cytauxzoon felis, an apicomplexan protozoan similar to Theileria spp. Transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, lone star tick, and Dermacentor variabilis, American dog tick, infection of C. felis in cats is severe, characterized by depression, lethargy, fever, hemolytic crisis, icterus, and possibly death. Cytauxzoonosis occurs mainly in the southern, south-central, and mid-Atlantic United States in North America, in close association with the distribution and activity of tick vectors. Infection of C. felis, although severe, is no longer considered uniformly fatal, and unless moribund, every attempt to treat cytauxzoonosis cats should be made. Herein we review cytauxzoonosis, including its etiology, affected species, its life cycle and pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and epidemiology, emphasizing clinical pathology findings in cats infected with this important emerging tick-borne disease in North and South America.
Highlights
Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease produced by infection of Cytauxzoon felis (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae), an apicomplexan protozoan that is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks to wild and domestic felids
Acute cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats is colloquially referred to as bobcat fever, as cats with acute cytauxzoonosis are febrile at presentation and infected bobcats serve as wild animal reservoirs
This review is focused on the etiologic agent, affected species, life cycle and pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and epizootiology of cytauxzoonosis, emphasizing the clinical pathology findings observed in cats infected with this important emerging disease in North America
Summary
Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease produced by infection of Cytauxzoon felis (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae), an apicomplexan protozoan that is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks to wild and domestic felids. But cats may survive infection, and every attempt should be made to treat cats with cytauxzoonosis, especially if diagnosis is made early in the course of disease. If C. felis-infected cats survive acute disease, the cats will become chronic survivors, with only piroplasms present in erythrocytes. Cytauxzoon felis was first reported in four cats from southwestern Missouri that presented with anemia, icterus, dehydration, and fever [1]. Acute cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats is colloquially referred to as bobcat fever, as cats with acute cytauxzoonosis are febrile at presentation and infected bobcats serve as wild animal reservoirs. This review is focused on the etiologic agent, affected species, life cycle and pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and epizootiology of cytauxzoonosis, emphasizing the clinical pathology findings observed in cats infected with this important emerging disease in North America
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