The main danger of ticks is the transmission of deadly infections. Most diseases in dogs and cats are the same, but piroplasmosis, or babesiosis, is an exception. In unvaccinated dogs, infection most often turns fatal, and there is practically no data on this topic for representatives of the cat family. Despite this, veterinarians still recommend vigilance, since in 2005 the theory that cats were immune to babesiosis was finally refuted.
Do cats get piroplasmosis?
Piroplasmosis is a disease caused by blood parasites of the genus Babesia, or piroplasmas. In the process of their life activity, these pests poison the body and destroy red blood cells.
Due to the massive death of the main oxygen carriers, the functionality of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems is disrupted. Without timely assistance, the infected person dies from hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency.
For a long time, the pathology was diagnosed only in dogs, but in 2005, scientists discovered Babesia in wild African cats. In 2013, cases of infection were also confirmed by German veterinarians, who registered 56 baleen patients with the babesia felis parasite. There is no reliable information regarding Russia yet, but taking into account research from other countries, it is better not to exclude the possibility of infection of your pets.
Diagnostics
Veterinarians often tell that cats suffer from piroplasmosis, forcing pet owners to buy expensive medications, vitamins, and immunostimulants. The disease can be diagnosed using several methods, but there is a possibility of an erroneous verdict, since Babesia is similar to other pathogens of various infections.
Diagnostic methods:
- serological;
- microscopic;
- PCR.
The serological and microscopic method is not very informative. PCR identifies the genome for a specific pathogen - feline Babesia.
Causes and routes of infection
According to studies, representatives of the Siamese breed are at risk. By analogy with dogs, young and old age, as well as short hair and thin undercoat, can be added to the aggravating factors. These characteristics of the animal affect the strength of the immune system, as well as accessibility to the main carriers of piroplasms - ixodid ticks.
Ixodid tick bite
Basically, ticks, as carriers of parasites, cling to animals in tall grass. For this reason, the likelihood of a stay-at-home cat becoming infected is extremely low. It increases with frequent walks on the street near the house, the nearest park and in the country.
Ticks awaken in late spring and go to sleep in early autumn, so owners should be on guard during this time. Climbing long hairs is quite problematic, but short hairs are a piece of cake.
During a bite, a tick infected with parasites injects them into the animal's blood channel along with its saliva. It contains a natural anesthetic, so at first the bitten person does not suspect anything.
Thus, the main route of transmission is through blood, that is, through the bite of an ixodid tick. In theory, infection is possible through scratches during a fight and through blood transfusion from a sick donor.
Incubation period
On average, the incubation period is 7-10 days. Its duration is affected by:
- the number of blood parasites that have entered the body;
- age and degree of immune defense of the body.
Depending on these factors, symptoms may appear as early as 3 days after infection or, conversely, only after 3 weeks. During this time, the lower form of Babesia evolves inside red blood cells, creates new doubles for itself and destroys blood cells.
Please note that only the babesia felis species is dangerous for mustachioed pets. They cannot become infected from dogs and are not capable of infecting humans.
Pathogenesis
Babesia multiply quickly, the symptoms of the disease rapidly increase, and the animal dies a few days after infection. If your cat stops eating, develops hyperthermia, urine turns dark brown, mucous membranes become jaundiced or excessively pale, you need to contact your veterinarian and undergo blood tests prescribed by him.
PCR is considered a reliable way to identify the pathogen, in which the genotype of the microorganism is determined. Other detection methods used for a similar disease in dogs are not suitable. The inaction of the fellinologist leaves no chance for the cat to survive.
Not pumped yet
First and subsequent symptoms of the disease
The first symptom of the disease is weakness. The infected person loses his usual activity and sleeps more than usual. Unlike the canine species, piroplasmosis in cats most often occurs in an acute form.
This is due to the fact that no vaccine has been developed for mustachioed pets to alleviate the disease. Because of this, the clinical picture looks quite bright and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- yellowing or blanching of mucous membranes;
- temperature rise to 41-42 °C;
- the appearance of shortness of breath, increased breathing and heart rate;
- staining urine bright red or brown due to massive death of red blood cells.
Additional signs include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and unsteady gait. When convulsions occur, the risk of developing paresis (muscle weakness) and rapid death from hypoxia increases.
The chronic form is observed much less frequently. It is characterized by less pronounced symptoms, so first of all, veterinarians recommend focusing on sudden exhaustion of the animal.
Diet
The issue of nutrition is also important in treatment. A weakened body will not be able to digest hard foods.
It is important to follow simple recommendations:
- all products must be presented in ground form;
- food temperature should not be lower than room temperature;
- all meat products are contraindicated - you can treat your furry friend only to beef and turkey;
- products that are accompanied by fermentation are prohibited;
- dry food must be pre-soaked.
This is very important to know, because the animal’s kidneys and liver may fail, which will lead to death.
What tests are used to detect piroplasmosis in cats?
Despite the fact that not all ticks carry babesiosis, you still shouldn’t let your guard down. If your pet has been bitten, show it to the doctor.
Basically, only 2 tests are used to make a diagnosis: urine and blood tests. When infected, hemoglobin is detected in the first, which should normally be present. It gets there due to the massive death of red blood cells. Some of them also clog the kidney tubules, which can lead to the formation of blood clots.
A blood test is more revealing, since it includes as many as 3 tests:
- General. Determines an increase in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and hemoglobin level. When taking blood for this test, a separate sample is also taken to count reticulocytes - young red blood cells. If infected, their level will be higher than normal.
- Biochemical. Determines the increase in bilirubin and the presence of ALT. Both indicators indicate liver problems.
- Microscopic. It is taken from the outside of the ear and allows you to determine the presence of direct pathogens. The problem is that cat Babesias are very small. They are easily confused with other parasites and foreign inclusions.
The most accurate blood test is PCR. With its help, the specific type of pathogen is determined. The downside is the cost, so PCR is used only as a last resort.
Please note that diagnosis during the incubation period often gives false negative results. If clinical signs are present or a tick is directly detected, repeat tests are performed after 2 days.
Disease prevention
Preventive measures consist of timely and regular use of insectoacaricidal agents included in sprays, drops, and collars. There are also drugs in tablet forms that have strong anti-flea and anti-tick effects. They demonstrate high efficiency compared to external use.
Dog owners are advised to carefully inspect the fur and skin of their animals during tick activity in order to promptly detect and remove ticks. There are also vaccinations against piroplasmosis that provide good protection. Many vaccines operate similarly and last for about 6 months.
Published in Diseases
How is the treatment carried out?
Piroplasmosis in cats has no specific treatment. Taking medications suppresses the activity of piroplasms, but does not always destroy them completely. Because of this, relapses are possible after recovery.
Destruction of piroplasms
Antiprotozoal drugs for dogs do not always give the desired effect, therefore, in addition to them, human drugs for malaria are used. In the latter case, the choice of remedy is determined by the similar life cycle of the parasites and the region of their residence (the majority of cases are recorded in Africa).
The main problem is the high toxicity of the drugs. A safe dose is not always enough for complete destruction, and increasing it can lead to the death of the animal. Despite this, the process of further reproduction of Babesia can be slowed down.
Elimination of the consequences of body poisoning
Intoxication and dehydration are eliminated with the help of droppers. They facilitate the removal of harmful substances and normalize urination. Severe piroplasmosis may require filtration or blood transfusion.
Depending on the degree of damage to internal organs, in addition to the main drugs, the following are prescribed:
- hepatoprotectors that support liver function:
- erythropoiesis stimulants, which increase the rate of red blood cell formation;
- immunomodulators that enhance the immune response;
- cardioprotectors that stabilize heart function;
- probiotics that restore intestinal microflora.
The medications listed above are taken strictly according to the schedule drawn up by the doctor. Returning to normal activity is often deceptive, as full recovery can take up to six months.
Additionally, it is recommended to change the diet to a more gentle one and add vitamins B and C to it. The effectiveness of treatment is determined by monthly tests.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis begins with a visual examination. Many symptoms of piroplasmosis are similar to signs of other diseases, so it is very important to make a correct diagnosis in order to prescribe adequate treatment in the future. The specialist needs to provide full information (physical and medical): tell what the cat has been sick with recently, whether she walked through places that are potentially dangerous for the presence of ticks, whether there were any scratches, wounds on the skin, and so on.
In order to confirm/refute the preliminary diagnosis, a set of diagnostic measures is carried out, including special tests, as well as laboratory tests, with the help of which the presence of pathogenic microorganisms can be detected.
After a physical examination, the doctor prescribes:
- Analysis of urine;
- serological and biochemical blood test.
In this case, a qualified veterinarian pays attention not only to the presence of Babesia themselves, but to specific changes in blood elements. In addition to traditional diagnostic methods, specialists have recently begun to use PCR for this purpose. But since this technique is quite expensive and requires the use of special equipment, such diagnostics are rarely carried out, and, as a rule, only in large cities - Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, and so on.
Prognosis for recovery
It is important to note that most infected wild cats do not suffer from symptoms of babesiosis. This is associated with the characteristics of the immune system, which can prevent parasites from entering healthy red blood cells. Unlike their immediate ancestors, domestic cats usually die without medical attention.
The prognosis for recovery depends on the form of the disease, the age of the animal and the strength of its immunity. Young and healthy animals recover faster.
A less optimistic prognosis is given for late presentation, when the patient develops the following complications:
- renal, liver and heart failure;
- hypoxia;
- inflammation of the spleen;
- exocrine pancreatic insufficiency;
- pancreatitis;
- lifelong anemia;
- toxic hepatitis.
When pregnant or lactating females are infected, veterinarians recommend abortion and interruption of feeding. The mother's pyroplasmas negatively affect her babies, causing them serious abnormalities and death inside the womb.
