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Haemobartonellosis Haemobartonellosis is also known as feline infectious anemia. It is caused by the parasite Haemobartonella felis, which attaches to the surface of mature red blood cells. When identified by the immune system as abnormal, affected cells are destroyed by the spleen. Affected cats are generally presented for lethargy and inappetance of 1-2 days duration. Physical examination usually reveals pale and jaundiced mucus membranes, normal body temperature, and rapid breathing. The mode of transmission is not fully understood but is suspected to be via any means of passing blood from one cat to another. It is thought that this disease may occur secondary to another stress-producing disease or event. Blood tests will indicate destruction of the red blood cells and the organisms are usually visible microscopically attached to the blood cells. The presence of the organism on blood cells is cyclic. The absence of H. felis in a cat with a regenerative anemia is not justification for dismissing this disease as a possibility; subsequent blood samples should be examined. Bone marrow disease should also be considered as a potential cause of similar problems. In severe cases blood transfusions may be required to replaced destroyed red blood cells, in mild cases the combination of the antibiotic doxycycline and the corticosteroid prednisolone are generally effective in inducing remission of the problem. Elimination of the organism is not normally achieved and a carrier states results. Relapse of the problem is a possibility. The prognosis of hemobartonellosis is generally good if the anemic crisis can be quickly averted, but some cats develop fatal anemias due to very low levels of red blood cells. The carrier state that often occurs leaves the cat susceptible to recurrence. This cat should not be used as a blood donor, but otherwise it is considered noncontagious to other cats, even in the carrier state. |
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