Piroplasmosis in cats is real: symptoms and treatment

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.

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.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there is no targeted vaccine against piroplasmosis. There are general vaccinations against diseases carried by ticks, which do not completely protect the animal from parasites, but facilitate the course of the disease itself and protect the pet from death.

Domestic cats that stay indoors and do not go outside are protected from babesiosis. It is not transmitted by dirt on shoes or by airborne droplets.

For other pets, the following protective measures are relevant:

• anti-tick vaccination;
• flea and tick collars;
• sprays against blood-sucking insects.

Let's summarize:

A cat bitten by a tick should be closely monitored, and if there are suspicious signs, immediately show it to a veterinarian.

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:

1. 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.
2. Biochemical. Determines the increase in bilirubin and the presence of ALT. Both indicators indicate liver problems.
3. 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.

Establishing diagnosis

A correct and accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced veterinarian after conducting a series of laboratory tests. Even with mild symptoms that alert the owners, the animal is treated with:

• general, biochemical and serological blood test;
• microscopic examination of a blood smear;
• urine test for blood.

The doctor needs to know under what conditions the cat walked in the previous days, that is, whether there was contact with a tick, the presence of even small wounds on the animal’s body, contact with other animals. Individuals with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to babesiosis, so it is necessary to inform the veterinarian about the pet's previous diseases.

It is difficult to establish a 100% picture of piroplasmosis due to similar symptoms with other diseases, for example, infectious anemia, which require completely different treatment.

The best results are obtained by microscopic examination of a smear of capillary blood from the auricle for the presence of Babesia.

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.

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.

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.