Survival of a domestic cat with naturally acquired cytauxzoonosis

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1995 May 1;206(9):1363-5.

Abstract

A cat with acute onset of febrile systemic illness was determined to be infected with Cytauxzoon felis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of cytologic morphology of erythroparasites seen in blood smears and results of microfluorometric immunoassay for serum antibody directed against C felis-parasitized RBC. Treatment consisted of parenteral administration of fluids and antibiotics. The cat recovered within 2 weeks. Circulating erythroparasites were not detected on blood smears from samples collected during follow-up examinations. However, high serum antibody titer persisted for at least 15 weeks after infection. The cat continued to be free of clinical disease 2.5 years after the initial diagnosis. Whether C felis infection persists in this cat has yet to be determined. This case indicates that some domestic cats can recover from naturally acquired cytauxzoonosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents*
  • Cat Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases* / therapy
  • Cats
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Enrofloxacin
  • Female
  • Fluid Therapy / veterinary
  • Fluoroquinolones*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Piroplasmida / isolation & purification*
  • Protozoan Infections / diagnosis
  • Protozoan Infections / therapy
  • Protozoan Infections, Animal*
  • Quinolones / therapeutic use
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Quinolones
  • Enrofloxacin
  • Tetracycline