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Feline infectious anaemia
- Caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis ( until recently, known as Haemobartonella felis)
- Organism found on surface of erythrocytes
- Common in roaming tom-cats of 1-3 years old
- Possibly transmitted via bite wounds or arthropods
- Recoverd cats become carriers
- Clinical signs
- Peracute disease is associated with severe anaemia and immunosuppression, and can be rapidly fatal
- Fever, anaemia, depression, weakness and jaundice occur in the acute form
- Anaemia, lethargy and weight loss occur in the chronic form
- Recovery can occur with a regenerative bone marrow response
- Severe feline infectious anaemia may occur in the presence of feline leukaemia virus
- Diagnosis
- Organism intermittently seen on the surface of red blood cells in Giemsa-stained blood smears
- Immunofluorescence of blood smears
- Reduced packed cell volume; regenerative anaemia
- Treatment
- Doxycycline for 3 weeks early in the course of the disease
- Blood transfusion
- Flea control
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