Feline Babesiosis: An overview
Susmita Majumder1, Santanu Nath2
- Division of Physiology & Climatology, ICAR-IVRI Bareilly (U.P.)
- Division of Livestock Products Technology, ICAR-IVRI Bareilly (U.P.)
Introduction:
The protozoal sickness caused by Babesia felis in cats is called feline babesiosis. It is characterized by a low-grade, chronic condition that is febrile. Anorexia and laziness are the two most commonly voiced criticisms by owners. Clinically, anemia, sadness, and occasionally icterus are the major manifestations.
Mood of Transmission:
Tick bites are the most frequent method of transmission because the Babesia parasite uses the tick as a reservoir to infect host mammals. Cats can become infected by ticks, blood transfusions, transplacental transmission, and direct blood transfer from dog or cat bites. Although the incubation period typically lasts two weeks, some instances may not be recognized for months or even years due to minor symptoms.
Etiology:
Domestic Cats – Babesia felis, B.cati
African Wild cats – B.herpailuri and B.pantherae.
Clinical pathology :
The most frequent hematological finding is macrocytic hypochromic anemia, but white cell and thrombocyte counts might vary and fluctuate. In addition to the presence of reticulocytes, a significant amount of nucleated red blood cells, marked angiocytosis, polychromasia, an increased amount of Howell jolly bodies (in excess of 1% RBC), and basophilic stippling of some red blood cells, anemia is a sign of active red blood cell regeneration. All of these symptoms point to the bone marrow’s restorative response to anemia.
Clinical findings :
Anaemia, weight loss, and anorexia are typical warning signals. Icterus, vomiting, pica, and respiratory symptoms are less frequent symptoms. The illness can linger for a while and frequently shows no symptoms until it has progressed quite far. Numerous cats experience various electrolyte imbalances, but no co-changing pattern could be found. Numerous patients had concurrent infections with Haemobartonella felis, feline immune virus, leukemia virus, and/or mycoplasma.
Diagnosi :
On a blood smear stained with a Romanowsky type stain, the babesia organism may be seen to be present in infected erythrocytes, which is how the diagnosis of babesia is made. B.canis is represented by a large (2×5 micron), pear-shaped organism that is typically found in pairs and has a variety of forms. Serology and PCR may be more effective methods for detecting occult parasitemia in less prevalent areas.
Treatment
The preferred medication is the malaria preventive Primaquine Phosphate, which is administered at a dose of 1 mg/cat every 36 hours for four doses and 1 mg/cat every 7 days for four more. It is well known that primaquine phosphate does not sterilize the infection after therapy, which is essential for the growth of the premune stage. A 21-day course of doxycycline at 5 mg/kg b.i.d. had some impact. Blood transfusions for life-threatening anemia should be determined by the patient’s clinical signs, medical history, and results of hematological tests. The treatment option for babesiosis includes PCV.
Prevention
The principal method of disease prevention is the regular dipping or spraying of pets, the use of tick collars or spot-on treatments, and the spraying of the premises. Agents that prevent ectoparasis, like fibronil, are also effective. It is crucial that all blood donors test negative for babesiosis since the babesia organism can be spread through blood transfusions.
