Cytauxzoonosis aka Bobcat Fever...
We had our first 2006 case of cytauxzoonis come in the hospital today.
The cat was presented for lethargy and anorexia of less than one day duration. Her admitting temperature was over 105F (normal temperatures in cats range from approximately 101 to 102F). While dogs and cats have a slightly higher normal temperature than humans, that does not make them immune to the effects and dangers to 104F+ fevers.
Having a pet come down with Bobcat Fever is not a good thing because almost 100% of the domestic cats that are infected with cytauxzoonosis will die, many of them within 48 hours or so.
The reason why it is called Bobcat Fever is because wild cats, usually bobcats, carry the protozoan in their bloodstream. Cytauxzoonosis is considered a blood parasite. While very few of these wild cats will die, they are breeding grounds for the disease. Once again we see the tick as an active vector; with the American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis, playing a critical role in the lifecycle of this organism. Cats contract the disease by being bitten by an infected tick.
The early symptoms for cytauxzoonosis usually include acute lethargy, depression, fever, and anorexia.
The only prevention that a pet owner has against the fatal disease is to keep their cats 100% indoors and to implement a flea and tick prevention program in their home, on the cat, as well as their surrounding property. Cats that go outdoors can be expected to have a higher risk of tick exposure.
And it doesn't matter whether or not you and your cat live in town or in the country. The cat that came in this morning was from the greater Oklahoma City metroplex area. In other words, a city cat.
One good thing about this protozoan, cytauxzoonosis, is that it is not zoonotic. That means that people can't get it. It also stays within the cat family. While dogs do not contract Bobcat Fever, they have enough problems of their own with the tick-borne diseases of Ehrlichiosis canis, Lymes disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
If you would like to read more about Bobcat Fever you can click on the links below.
later...
Cytauxzoonosis in Cats: An Overview
Cytauxzoonosis
Piroplasms
The cat was presented for lethargy and anorexia of less than one day duration. Her admitting temperature was over 105F (normal temperatures in cats range from approximately 101 to 102F). While dogs and cats have a slightly higher normal temperature than humans, that does not make them immune to the effects and dangers to 104F+ fevers.
Having a pet come down with Bobcat Fever is not a good thing because almost 100% of the domestic cats that are infected with cytauxzoonosis will die, many of them within 48 hours or so.
The reason why it is called Bobcat Fever is because wild cats, usually bobcats, carry the protozoan in their bloodstream. Cytauxzoonosis is considered a blood parasite. While very few of these wild cats will die, they are breeding grounds for the disease. Once again we see the tick as an active vector; with the American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis, playing a critical role in the lifecycle of this organism. Cats contract the disease by being bitten by an infected tick.
The early symptoms for cytauxzoonosis usually include acute lethargy, depression, fever, and anorexia.
The only prevention that a pet owner has against the fatal disease is to keep their cats 100% indoors and to implement a flea and tick prevention program in their home, on the cat, as well as their surrounding property. Cats that go outdoors can be expected to have a higher risk of tick exposure.
And it doesn't matter whether or not you and your cat live in town or in the country. The cat that came in this morning was from the greater Oklahoma City metroplex area. In other words, a city cat.
One good thing about this protozoan, cytauxzoonosis, is that it is not zoonotic. That means that people can't get it. It also stays within the cat family. While dogs do not contract Bobcat Fever, they have enough problems of their own with the tick-borne diseases of Ehrlichiosis canis, Lymes disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
If you would like to read more about Bobcat Fever you can click on the links below.
later...
Cytauxzoonosis in Cats: An Overview
Cytauxzoonosis
Piroplasms
posted by It's me, T.J. at Tuesday, June 13, 2006
2 Comments:
TJ,
Have you heard about the 12 lane super highway set to cut through Oklahoma City on its way from Mexico to Canada?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50451
Hey D.T.!
It's good to 'see' you.
No... I haven't heard of this new super lane highway.
If the article is representing the facts correctly, I'm not sure that I am going to like this idea, at all.
I do know that they are currently working near downtown OKC (Oklahoma City) on moving and expanding I-40. I-40 intersects with I-35, which is the corridor that this superhighway is wanting to follow. This expansion would be really close to the intersection of the two roads.
They have already forced businesses and other property owners to move out of the way of this current expansion. There has been discussion of yanking out the rail terminal too.
But now... It wouldn't make sense to take out the rail terminal if they are going to go through with this project. It would prove to be too valuable in my opinion.
It appears that it is private interest that is driving this superhighway idea. I wonder if the I-40 expansion is in preparation for this?
A gigantic commercial toll road to replace the major north/south artery in the central/heartland of the U.S.?
hmmm...
Time to buy some land for speculation near I-35 and go live somewhere way east or west of the nasty thing.
A direct "pipeline of travelers" in and out of the country from Mexico to Canada?
Dang.
If they could prove that this idea would make our borders more secure, then I might consider supporting such a thing. However, given our track record and the situation that we are currently in...
I don't think it's a good idea at all.
Another thought about this connecting the extreme north to the extreme south occurred to me too.
Are we trying to consolidate Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.? Or do we plan to maintain our sovereignty?
Thanks D.T. for the link.
BTW... I've been wanting to talk to you about a trip I'm making to NYC.
I'll try to catch up with you...
later...
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