Pradofloxacin for Feline Infectious Anemia

Dowers, K. L., S. Tasker, et al. (2009). "Use of pradofloxacin to treat experimentally induced Mycoplasma hemofelis infection in cats." Am J Vet Res 70(1): 105-11.

Mycoplasma hemofelis, formerly known as Hemobartonella felis, is the causative agent of feline infectious anemia. The bacterium is spread through flea bites and causes hemolytic anemia that may result in the death of infected cats. It is believed that most infected cats do not clear the organisms even with appropriate antimicrobial treatment, which most commonly is doxycycline. Pradofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic for veterinary use that appears to have increased effectiveness against many bacteria. In this study, treatment of cats infected with M. hemofelis with doxycycline was compared to low and high doses of pradofloxacin. All treatment regimens were equally effective in improving the clinical condition and blood parameters of infected cats. When assessed by molecular detection for clearance of the organism, both low and high dose pradofloxacin were effective, while none of the doxycycline-treated animals completely cleared detectable organisms. The authors concluded that pradofloxacin not only had anti-M. hemofelis effects, it may be more effective at long term M. hemofelis organism clearance than doxycycline.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, et al. (2007). "From Haemobartonella to hemoplasma: Molecular methods provide new insights." Vet Microbiol 125(3-4): 197-209.
>> PubMed Abstract

Ishak, A. M., K. L. Dowers, et al. (2008). "Marbofloxacin for the treatment of experimentally induced Mycoplasma haemofelis infection in cats." J Vet Intern Med 22(2): 288-92.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Dowers, K. L., S. Tasker, et al. (2009). "Use of pradofloxacin to treat experimentally induced Mycoplasma hemofelis infection in cats." Am J Vet Res 70(1): 105-11.

Mycoplasma hemofelis, formerly known as Hemobartonella felis, is the causative agent of feline infectious anemia. The bacterium is spread through flea bites and causes hemolytic anemia that may result in the death of infected cats. It is believed that most infected cats do not clear the organisms even with appropriate antimicrobial treatment, which most commonly is doxycycline. Pradofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic for veterinary use that appears to have increased effectiveness against many bacteria. In this study, treatment of cats infected with M. hemofelis with doxycycline was compared to low and high doses of pradofloxacin. All treatment regimens were equally effective in improving the clinical condition and blood parameters of infected cats. When assessed by molecular detection for clearance of the organism, both low and high dose pradofloxacin were effective, while none of the doxycycline-treated animals completely cleared detectable organisms. The authors concluded that pradofloxacin not only had anti-M. hemofelis effects, it may be more effective at long term M. hemofelis organism clearance than doxycycline.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, et al. (2007). "From Haemobartonella to hemoplasma: Molecular methods provide new insights." Vet Microbiol 125(3-4): 197-209.
>> PubMed Abstract

Ishak, A. M., K. L. Dowers, et al. (2008). "Marbofloxacin for the treatment of experimentally induced Mycoplasma haemofelis infection in cats." J Vet Intern Med 22(2): 288-92.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Pathogenicity of Feline Cytauxzoonosis

Brown, H. M., R. D. Berghaus, et al. (2009). "Genetic variability of Cytauxzoon felis from 88 infected domestic cats in Arkansas and Georgia." J Vet Diagn Invest 21(1): 59-63.

Cytauxzoonosis is a highly fatal tick-borne disease of cats, both exotic and domestic. The causative organism, Cytauxzoon felis, is a relatively new pathogen to the USA. It occurs in the south-central, southeastern, and mid-Atlantic regions. Bobcats are believed to be the natural reservoir, and when domestic cats become infected, a rapid disease course ending in death usually occurs. Recently, cases of survival have been documented in domestic cats. This may be due to different strains of the organism. To investigate this possibility, genetic analysis was done on a total of 88 C. felis isolates from cats in Arkansas and Georgia, 44 of which were from cats that survived infection. This analysis identified three unique parasite genotypes, one of which was associated with survival, referred to as genotype ITSA. Thus, there were genetic differences identified that were associated with outcome of infection.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Brown, H. M., K. S. Latimer, et al. (2008). "Detection of persistent Cytauxzoon felis infection by polymerase chain reaction in three asymptomatic domestic cats." J Vet Diagn Invest 20(4): 485-8.
>> PubMed Abstract

Haber, M. D., M. D. Tucker, et al. (2007). "The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA." Vet Parasitol 146(3-4): 316-20.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Brown, H. M., R. D. Berghaus, et al. (2009). "Genetic variability of Cytauxzoon felis from 88 infected domestic cats in Arkansas and Georgia." J Vet Diagn Invest 21(1): 59-63.

Cytauxzoonosis is a highly fatal tick-borne disease of cats, both exotic and domestic. The causative organism, Cytauxzoon felis, is a relatively new pathogen to the USA. It occurs in the south-central, southeastern, and mid-Atlantic regions. Bobcats are believed to be the natural reservoir, and when domestic cats become infected, a rapid disease course ending in death usually occurs. Recently, cases of survival have been documented in domestic cats. This may be due to different strains of the organism. To investigate this possibility, genetic analysis was done on a total of 88 C. felis isolates from cats in Arkansas and Georgia, 44 of which were from cats that survived infection. This analysis identified three unique parasite genotypes, one of which was associated with survival, referred to as genotype ITSA. Thus, there were genetic differences identified that were associated with outcome of infection.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Brown, H. M., K. S. Latimer, et al. (2008). "Detection of persistent Cytauxzoon felis infection by polymerase chain reaction in three asymptomatic domestic cats." J Vet Diagn Invest 20(4): 485-8.
>> PubMed Abstract

Haber, M. D., M. D. Tucker, et al. (2007). "The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA." Vet Parasitol 146(3-4): 316-20.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More