Piroplasmosis in cats: treatment and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

With the beginning of spring and warm weather, ticks wake up after hibernation. Having slightly warmed up in the sun, they begin to look for a victim - a warm-blooded animal. Parasite bites affect both people and pets. However, the tick bite itself is not dangerous, it is not poisonous, but together with saliva, the blood-sucking parasite can transmit various pathogens. So, for example, piroplasmosis occurs in cats.

What is piroplasmosis?

Piroplasmosis in cats is a very severe acute (or chronic) invasive disease. It is caused by the simplest microorganism Babesia felis. But not every type of tick is dangerous. The carrier of the disease is only ixodid ticks Dermacentor pictus, Dermacentor marginatus and some other species.

In nature, ixodid ticks live on small rodents: mice, rats, voles.

For a long time it was believed that cats are not susceptible to this disease, but modern research has shown that catssuffer from piroplasmosis, but much less often than dogs.

The first peak of the disease occurs in early spring and early summer (from April to June), the second - in autumn (from September to October). But there are cases of infection in the middle of summer.

What happens after a bite?

After the bite of an ixodid tick, piroplasms penetrate into the blood. Then they are introduced into red blood cells-erythrocytes and begin active reproduction. Since red cells are responsible for the transport of oxygen, after their destruction, oxygen starvation of the body occurs. Also, the body simply does not have time to process and remove a huge amount of hemoglobin in the blood. As a result, bilirubin is formed - a very toxic breakdown product of hemoglobin. Its accumulation in the blood leads to poisoning of the body, damage to the kidneys, liver, and nervous system. Since this happens rather quickly, an adult animal can fall into a coma within a few days after infection.

Symptoms of disease

Piroplasmosis in cats is very difficult. Symptoms accompanying the disease appear within a few (from 3 to 7) days after the bite of an ixodid tick. The cat becomes lethargic, apathetic, refuses to feed. The temperature rises, breathing becomes frequent and restless, the oral mucosa acquires a yellowish tint. During a fever, the temperature can reach 41 degrees. Urine becomes brown or coffee-colored, the mucous membrane of the eyelids turns pale or blue. Possible diarrhea, vomiting.

In case of hyperacute course of the diseasethe animal may die in 2-3 days. However, piroplasmosis tends to become chronic. At the same time, clinical signs are not pronounced, erased. There is a slight temperature, lethargy, general weakness, pale mucous membranes, vomiting, loose stools.

Diagnosis

Diagnoses piroplasmosis in cats veterinarian. First, an examination of the animal is carried out in order to detect ticks on the body. After that, laboratory tests are assigned. The most reliable and informative is the detection of piroplasms in a blood smear.

And repeat the study several times to obtain a 100% result. Additionally, urine tests are given.

Treatment of piroplasmosis

Treatment of a disease is a very long and complicated process, which can only be prescribed by a qualified doctor. There are two directions in treatment. Firstly, the destruction of piroplasms in the animal's body, and secondly, the removal of intoxication as a result of their vital activity. Vitamins, heart medications, and liver support medications are commonly used.

As an exterminator of the parasite, an antimalarial drug is used, which, despite its effectiveness, has a lot of side effects, which further weakens the exhausted cat's body. It is also possible to prescribe "Doxycycline", "Gamavit". The latter supports the immune system, normalizes the blood picture, reduces the level of toxic substances in the blood.

Disease prevention

Main preventivemeasures are the treatment of the animal with acaricidal agents and the prevention of bites of ixodid ticks. Preparations can be in the form of a spray (they begin to act immediately after treatment) and in the form of drops on the withers (it takes a day to activate). Protective shampoos and acaricidal collars will also help prevent piroplasmosis in cats.

Do not let the cat walk in an unfamiliar place or forest, after a walk, carefully inspect the animal - ticks are hard to see under thick hair.

In addition, there are vaccines against piroplasmosis, but their effectiveness has not yet been reliably proven.

So, modern scientists were able to get an answer to the question: "Do cats get piroplasmosis?". Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Therefore, during the period of activation of ticks, cat owners should pay great attention to the prevention of this serious disease, the outcome of which can be fatal.