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Category: Feline
Haemobartonellosis, Haemobartonella infection.
Haemobartonella, Haemobart., feline infectious anemia.
AffectedAnimals:
Essentially all cats have the potential to be infected with Haemobartonella felis. Cats infected with feline leukemia virus appear to be at higher risk for infection and are likely to have more severe signs of illness.
Overview:
Haemobartonellosis, or feline infectious anemia, is a parasitic disease caused by Haemobartonella felis. The disease process begins when H. felis organisms attach themselves to the red blood cells of infected cats. H. felis may be spread by a number of routes, although fleabites are thought to be the major mode of transmission. While some infected cats have no symptoms, others may develop severe anemia and illness. The infection is diagnosed microscopically when the organisms are found on the surface of red blood cells in a blood smear. However, since the organisms may not always be present, treatment is often initiated in an anemic cat if there is no other explanation for the anemia. Specific treatment for feline infectious anemia includes tetracycline antibiotics and prednisone. Patients may require supportive care, including blood transfusion. Although treatment does not eliminate the infection completely, cats that survive are thought to have a good long-term outlook.
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