Page 391 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

19 – THE PYREXIC CAT 383

Marked depression, anorexia and lethargy, with or In humans, the drugs of choice are streptomycin and
without vomiting are typical. gentamycin.
On physical examination, peripheral lymphadenopa-
Prognosis
thy, icterus and palpable splenomegaly and
hepatomegaly are reported. Prognosis is poor to fair as mortality rate varies across
Oral, lingual or pharyngeal ulcers may be present. case reports.

Transmission
Diagnosis
F. tularensis has a serious zoonotic potential if there is
Clinical signs together with a history of exposure to contact with infected animal tissue.
wild rabbits is highly suggestive.
Bites from infected ticks, deer flies or mosquitoes
Hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities are the most common method of transmission.
may include panleukopenia, with severe toxic
Infection can also occur via ingestion of infected meat.
changes in neutrophils, high band neutrophil count,
thrombocyto-penia and hyperbilirubinemia. Transmission may occur via a bite or scratch from an
infected mammal.
Definitive diagnosis is via identification of the bacter-
● This is the most common method of transmission to
ial agent by IFA or bacterial culture, but should only
humans in cat-associated cases.
be performed in a qualified laboratory.
● The infected cat may have no obvious signs of ill-
● Samples can be obtained from affected lymph
ness, but have a history of hunting wild animals,
nodes, bone marrow, urine or blood.
especially rabbits.
Serum antibody titers > 1:120 or a four-fold increase
Inhalation of aerosolized organisms may also transmit
in serum antibodies in samples collected during acute
the disease. Care should be taken by veterinary and
and convalescent phases (10–14 days) are considered
laboratory personnel handling suspected animals or
diagnostic.
samples being prepared for IFA or culture.
Differential diagnosis Prevention
FIP, FIV, panleukopenia. Discourage hunting behavior in cats.
Plague (Yersinia pestis). Ectoparasite control, especially tick control.
Toxoplasmosis.
YERSINIA PESTIS (FELINE PLAGUE)*
Cytauxzoon felis.
Multicentric lymphoma. Classical signs
● Acute onset of signs.
● Moderate to high fever (39.4–41.2˚C;
Treatment
103–106˚F).
Antimicrobial efficacy studies have not been done in ● Submandibular lymphadenopathy.
the cat, therefore therapy is derived from case reports ● Depression.
and/or human therapy regimens. ● Anorexia.
Enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg q 12 hours IV or PO).
Pathogenesis
Tetracycline and chloramphenicol may be effective, but
because they are bacteriostatic for F. tularensis, Onset of illness occurs 24–72 hours after exposure to
relapses can occur. the organism.