Update on flea and tick associated diseases of cats

Abstract

There are multiple vector-borne diseases in cats, the most prominent being those transmitted by mosquitos, sand flies, fleas, and ticks. Many of the agents vectored by fleas or ticks have been grown or amplified from blood or have induced antibodies in the serum of normal cats or those with clinical signs like fever and will be the focus of this manuscript. As high as 80% of fleas collected from cats contain at least one organism that could induce illness in cats or people. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. infect cats and can be associated with clinical illness. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi are transmitted by Ixodes spp., Ehrlichia spp. and A. platys are transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Fleas vector Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and R. felis. Recently, R. typhus was detected in cats in Spain. Lethargy and fever are common findings in cats with flea and tick borne diseases. Hemoplasmas are associated with hemolytic anemia. Moderate thrombocytopenia is associated with the tick-vectored agents. Polymerase chain reaction assays performed on blood collected in the acute phase of infection can be used to prove presence of the organisms. Doxycycline at 5 mg/kg, PO, twice daily or 10 mg/kg, PO, daily can be effective for resolving the clinical signs. If doxycycline is ineffective or not tolerated, fluoroquinolones can be effective for treatment of clinical illness associated with Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas, and Rickettsia spp. Use of flea and tick control products is effective for blocking transmission of many of the agents.