Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with weight loss and jaundice diagnosed with Hepatozoon infection
By Tuna, Gülten Emek et al.·Published in Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi·2018·Department of Internal Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular Identification and Clinicopathological Findings of Hepatozoon sp. Infection in a Cat: First Report from Turkey.
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old female cat was brought to the vet after losing weight and not eating for a month. The cat showed signs of weakness, fever, and swollen lymph nodes during the exam. Blood tests revealed anemia and high bilirubin levels, indicating liver issues. The vet diagnosed her with a Hepatozoon infection, which is caused by a type of protozoa spread by ticks. Treatment details weren't specified, but identifying the infection is crucial for proper care.
People also search for: cat not eating weight loss · Hepatozoon infection in cats · cat liver problems symptoms
Abstract
Hepatozoon is a genus of protozoa belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Ticks are the vectors for the members of this genus. The protozoans infect a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The domestic and wild felids are also susceptible to Hepatozoon infection. A five-year-old female cat was presented to the Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital, with a 1-month history of inappetence and weight loss. In a physical examination, weakness, depression, anorexia, lymphadenopathy, icteric mucous membranes, abdominal distension, and fever were detected. Laboratory analysis revealed anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, and increased serum total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin concentrations. Hepatozoonosis was diagnosed by the observation of Hepatozoon spp. gamonts within neutrophils in Giemsa-stained blood smears and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the first report about the molecular identification of hepatozoonosis in a cat from Turkey.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30604690/