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Redirected page to Category:Piroplasmida
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#REDIRECT[[:Category:Piroplasmida]]
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|linkpage =Parasites
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|linktext =PARASITES
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|sublink1=Protozoa
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|subtext1=PROTOZOA
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<br>
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==Introduction==
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The '''piroplasms''' are a group of blood-bourne protozoa which are transmitted by [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]]. The two species most of veterinary importance are ''Babesia'', ''Cytauxzoon'' and ''Theileria''.
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Piroplasms are apicomplexan protozoa which inhabit [[Erythrocytes - WikiBlood|erythrocytes]], and sometimes other cells of vertebrates, but do not form pigment from haemoglobin. All piroplasms are small and round or pear-shaped (erythrocyte forms) and are parasitic on fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.
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==''Babesia''==
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[[Image:Babesia Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Babesia'' Life Cycle Diagram - Dennis Jacobs & Mark Fox RVC]]
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[[Image:Alternative Babesia life cycle diagram.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Babesia'' Life Cycle - Mariana Ruiz Villarreal]]
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*Infects a wide range of host species in different areas of the world
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*Babesiosis has severe effects on cattle production in parts of the world
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**Prevents European breeds from being successful in tropical regions where [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]] are endemic.
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**Occurs sporadically in the UK and Ireland causing losses of around £8 million per year
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'''Life Cycle'''
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*Both [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Disease Transmission|trans-stadial]] and [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Disease Transmission|trans-ovarian]] occurs
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*Each female [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] produces 3000 eggs
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*The [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] is the definitive host
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*''Babesia'' multiplies in the red blood cells by '''budding'''
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**Forms 2-4 daughter cells (species dependent)
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**Giemsa blood smears can differentiate between species using 'Diffquik' stain
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*''Babesia'' species are either small or large depending on the size of the daughter cells
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*Small ''Babesia''
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**E.g. ''B. divergens''
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**E.g. ''B. gibsoni''
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**Peripheral nucleus
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**Obtuse angle
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*Large ''Babesia''
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**E.g. ''B. major''
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**E.g. ''B. canis-complex''
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**Central nucleus
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**Acute angle
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*Daughter cells disrupt the red blood cell and are released
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**Spread and infect other red blood cells
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*Antigen is released which absorbs onto other red blood cells
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**Causes haemolysis and [[General Pathology - Pigmentation and Calcification#Haemoglobin|haemoglobin pigmentation]]
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**Causes haemolytic anaemia, haemoglobinuria and fever
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*Cattle
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**Sudden onset
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**Often fatal if untreated
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**Causes 'pipestem' faeces
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**Clumping of red blood cells in brain capillaries can occur causing neurological signs
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'''Epidemiology'''
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*Determined by:
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**Number of infected [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]] seeking a blood mean ('''tick pressure''')
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**Calves under 9 months are refractory to disease
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***Can develop immunity if exposed without showing clinical signs
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**Premunity developes quickly in infected cattle which causes a 'carrier state'
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**Immunity can wane in the absense of re-infection
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**Uninfected cattle remain susceptible
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*Predisposing factors:
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**Sucseptible animals introduced into an infected area
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**Infected [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]] are intorduced into a clean area
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**Infected cattle are introduced into an area with clean [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]]
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**Temporary reduction in the [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] population decreasing the transmission rate (causing enzootic instability)
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**Infected are transported or stressed in other ways, e.g. parturition
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*In the UK
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**Sporadic disease
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**Enzootic instability
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**Occurs mostly during the spring and autumn during periods of greatest [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] activity
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**Occurs mostly in stressed cattle under 2 years old on rough grazing
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**''B. divergens'' the most common species
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**[[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Ixodes spp.|''Ixodes ricinus'']] is the vector
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**[[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Disease Transmission|Trans-ovarial]] transmission to the next generation occurs
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**''B. major'' occurs in South East England but is not pathogenic
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***Vector is [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Important Hard Ticks|''Haemaphysalis'']]
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*Overseas
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**''B. bovis'' causes considerable losses in cattle throughout many tropical and sub-tropical areas
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***In Australia an attenuated vaccine is used
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***Vector is [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Important Hard Ticks|''Boophilus'']]
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**''B. bigemina'' causes problems in Africa and South America
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***Vector is [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Important Hard Ticks|''Boophilus'']]
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*Dogs
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**Complex epidemiology
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**Recognised species are extending their endemic ranges due to the disovery of the small ''Babesia'' species, pet passport scheme and increased overseas travel
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**Large species comprises 3 subspecies
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***''B. canie canis'' is the msot important
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****[[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Important Hard Ticks|''Dermacentor'']] vector
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****Largely confined to southern Europe but is spreading
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***''B. canis'' uses [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Important Hard Ticks|''Rhipicephalus'']] as a vector and is spreading northwards through Europe
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***''B. gibsoni'' is now established in the USA and South-East Asia
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**British dogs have no immunity as no species are endemic to the UK so are highly suceptible if taken abroad
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**Prevent [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] bites by a 'Amitraz' collar is currently the best method of protection
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*Horses
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**2 species occur
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**''B. equi'' is the most pathogenic
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**Not endemic to the UK
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**Serology using ELISA or IFAT to diagnose
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*Sheep and goats
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**Several species
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**Little clincial significance
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===Enzootic Instability===
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*Low rate of transmission
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*Few infected [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|ticks]]
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*Infrequent exposure
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*Immunity wanes or is completely absent in many individuals
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*Low levels of herd immunity
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*'''Higher''' incidence of disease
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===Enzootic Stability===
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*High rate of transmission
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*Many infected ticks
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*Frequent exposure boosts immunity
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*High level of herd immunity
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*'''Lower''' incidence of disease
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==''Theileria''==
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[[Image:Theileria parva life cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Theileria parva'' Life Cycle Diagram - Dennis Jacobs & Mark Fox RVC]]
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*Main species of veterinary importance is ''Theileria parva''
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**Causes '''East Coast Fever'''
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***Severe, proliferative lymphatic disease of cattle
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***Central and Eastern Africa
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***Transmitted by [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Ticks of Veterinary Importance|''Rhipicephalus appendiculatus'']]
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***[[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Disease Transmission|Trans-stadial]] transmission
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*Other ''Theileria'' species causes production losses in cattle and sheep in the Middle East, Mediterranean and in Northern Africa
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'''Life Cycle'''
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*Incubation phase lasts 1 week
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*Lymphoblast proliferation
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**Local [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph node]] first infected then spreads through body
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**Occurs in week two
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*Lymphoid depletion
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**[[Lymphocytes - WikiBlood|Lymphocytes]] killed
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**Decreases lymphopoiesis
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**Occurs in week 3
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*Total incubation period takes about 18 days
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'''Diagnosis'''
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*Clinical signs
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**Pyrexia
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**Enlarged local [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph node]]
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***Usually parotid [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph node]] as [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks#Ticks of Veterinary Importance|''Rhipicephalus appendiculatus'']] feeds in the ear
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**Loss of condition
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*Examine Giemsa stained smears of:
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**Local [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph node]] aspirated for schizonts
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**Blood smears for pioplasms in red blood cells
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*Post-mortem
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**Pulmonary oedema
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**Gut mucosal haemorrhages
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**[[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|Lymph node]] and [[Spleen - Anatomy & Physiology|spleen]] cellular atrophy
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'''Control'''
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*Integrated control of both the [[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|tick]] and vector
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**[[Vaccines - WikiBlood|Vaccination]] and [[ectoparasiticides]]
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*Current [[Vaccines - WikiBlood|vaccination]] is live unattentuated
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**Contains frozen stabilate of ground up tick gut containing infective sporozoites
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**Long lasting oxytetracycline administered at the same time to slow down schizogony giving the immune response time to develop
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==''Cytauxzoon felis''==
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*Cytauxzoon is classified in the order ''Piroplasmida'' and family ''Theileriidae''
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**This family has both an erythrocytic and a tissue (leukocytic) phase
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*The ''Babesiidae'', a related family, is characterized by having a primarily erythrocytic phase in the mammalian host
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**Its morphological features are indistinguishable from the erythrocytic form of Cytauxzoon
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*''Cytauxzoon felis'', ''B. equi'', and ''B. rodhaini'' have been linked to both the babesias and theilerias by RNA gene sequence analysis
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**It has been suggested that these organisms be reclassified within a separate family
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'''Life Cycle'''
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*Large schizonts of ''C. felis'' develop in [[Macrophages - WikiBlood|macrophages]]
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**In Theileria the exoerythrocytic stage occurs primarily within [[Lymphocytes - WikiBlood|lymphocytes]]
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*In ''C. felis'', schizonts develop within mononuclear phagocytes, initially as indistinct vesicular structures and later as large, distinct nucleated schizonts that actively undergo division by true schizogony and binary fission
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*Later in the course of the disease, schizonts develop buds (merozoites) that separate and eventually fill the entire host cell
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*Each schizont may contain numerous merozoites
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**Ultrastructurally, schizonts lack a parasitophorous vacuole, and individual merozoites possess rhoptries
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*The host cell ruptures, releasing merozoites into the tissue fluid and blood
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*Merozoites are then believed to enter erythrocytes to form the intraerythrocytic stage
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*Merozoites appear in [[Macrophages - WikiBlood|macrophages]] one to three days before they are observed in [[Erythrocytes - WikiBlood|erythrocytes]]
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'''Pathogenicity'''
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*[[Suborder: Metastigmata, ticks|Ticks]] are implicated as the natural vector for ''Cytauxzoon''
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**Most cases of infection have been associated with the presence of these parasites on the hosts
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**Experimentally, ''Dermacentor variabilis'' can transmit the organism from bobcats to domestic cats.  In a white tiger that developed a natural, fatal infection in Florida, two female Lone Star ticks (''Amblyomma americanum'') were present on the inguinal skin. 
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*Clinically, the disease in cats is characterized by fever, depression, dyspnea, anorexia, lymphadenopathy, anaemia, and icterus leading to death in three to six days
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*Gross findings include pale or icteric mucous membranes, petechiae and ecchymoses in the [[Lungs - Anatomy & Physiology|lung]], [[Heart - Anatomy & Physiology|heart]], [[Lymph Nodes - Anatomy & Physiology|lymph nodes]] and on mucous membranes, splenomegaly, lymphadenomegaly, and hydropericardium
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*Microscopically, numerous large schizonts are present within the cytoplasm of endothelial-associated [[Macrophages - WikiBlood|macrophages]]
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**Infected macrophages become markedly enlarged (up to 75μm) and may occlude the lumens of numerous vessels of many tissues, especially the [[Lungs - Anatomy & Physiology|lungs]]
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**Minimal inflammatory reaction is present in tissues
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'''Diagnosis'''
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*Merozoites within [[Erythrocytes - WikiBlood|erythrocytes]], best seen on peripheral blood or tissue impressions, are variable in morphology and can occur as round, oval, or signet ring-shaped bodies
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**Are 1-5 micrometers in diameter
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**Small, peripherally placed basophilic nucleus
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*Organisms that must be distinguished from the intraerythrocytic phase of ''C. felis'' include ''Babesia'' and ''Hemobartonella''
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**The blood stage may appear similar to the ring forms of ''Hemobartonella'' and to the piriforms of ''Babesia''
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**Unlike ''Cytauxzoon'', ''babesiosis'' and ''hemobartonellosis'' do not have a tissue stage of infection
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*Differential diagnosis for the tissue phase of ''cytauxzoonosis'' includes other small (less than 5 μm), intrahistiocytic organisms such as ''Toxoplasma'', ''Leishmania'' and ''Histoplasma''
 
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