Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatozoonosis in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Lloret, Albert et al.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Hepatozoonosis is an infection that affects domestic cats, but most cats with this infection don't show any symptoms. It's mostly found in areas where dogs are also infected, and the exact way cats get the infection is still unclear. Diagnosis can be made by looking for the parasite in blood samples or muscle tissue. While there isn't a known best treatment, some cats have been treated successfully with antibiotics like doxycycline or oxytetracycline, along with another medication called primaquine. It's recommended to protect your cat from fleas and ticks to help prevent this infection.
Abstract
OVERVIEW: Hepatozoonosis of domestic cats has been reported in several countries, mainly as a subclinical infection. DISEASE AGENT: Infection has been described mostly in areas where canine infection is present and, in recent years, Hepatozoon felis has been identified as a distinct species by molecular techniques. The vector for feline hepatozoonosis remains unknown and the pathogenesis has not been elucidated. INFECTION IN CATS: Feline hepatozoonosis is mainly a subclinical infection and few cases have been reported with clinical signs. The diagnosis of hepatozoonosis in cats can be made by observation of parasite gamonts in blood smears, parasite meronts in muscles by histopathology, and detection of parasite DNA in blood and tissue by PCR. DISEASE MANAGEMENT: The treatment of choice is not known, but single cases have been treated with doxycycline or oxytetracycline and primaquine. Although the mode of transmission and the type of vector is not known, preventive treatment against blood-sucking vectors (fleas and ticks) is advised.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26101318/