Cytauxzoon felis

Name

Greek: kytos = cell, auxe = growth, zoon = animal.

Although it was recently suggested that C. felis is a Theileria species (e.g., T. taurotragi-like), its systematic position remains unsolved. However, it should be considered in any way as piroplasmean parasite of domestic and wild cats (mainly spreading in North America). It penetrates red blood cells as well as cells inside lymph nodes and leads to a theileriasis-like disease with rapidly progressing symptoms such as fever, inappetance, anorexia, lethargy, mild pneumonia and anemia, dyspnea, icterus, and often sudden death after short time infection. Vectors are the American tick species Amblyomma americanum (= American dog tick) and Dermacentor variabilis (= lone star tick). Natural hosts are, e.g., bob cats (Lynx rufus) but probably also other related animals. There exists neither a vaccine nor a reliable chemotherapy. Protection can just become achieved by use of insecticides (10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin) in collars.