Administration of diminazene aceturate or imidocarb dipropionate for treatment of cytauxzoonosis in cats.

Abstract

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the reservoir hosts for Cytauxzoon felis, the causative agent of cytauxzoonosis. Cytauxzoonosis is a highly fatal tickborne blood protozoal disease of domestic and exotic cats. Treatment of clinically affected cats has generally been unrewarding. In our report, 6 of 7 cats had signs of illness and laboratory findings indicative of cytauxzoonosis and were successfully treated with 2 i.m. injections of diminazene aceturate or imidocarb dipropionate (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/lb] of body weight, each). One cat died after the first injection of diminazene. Additional treatment with isotonic fluids i.v. and heparin s.c. were used as supportive care for dehydration and disseminated intravascular coagulation that were detected by laboratory testing between diminazene or imidocarb treatments. Atropine was effective in recovery and preventing adverse reactions associated with imidocarb treatment of 1 cat.

• Authors: C E Greene, K Latimer, E Hopper, G Shoeffler, K Lower, F Cullens
• Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (J Am Vet Med Assoc) Vol. 215 Issue 4 Pg. 497-500, 482 (Aug 15 1999) ISSN: 0003-1488 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10461632 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Isotonic Solutions
• Imidocarb
• Heparin
• diminazene aceturate
• Diminazene
• imidocarb dipropionate

Topics

• Animals
• Antiprotozoal Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Blood (parasitology)
• Blood Transfusion (veterinary)
• Body Temperature
• Cat Diseases (drug therapy, parasitology)
• Cats
• Diminazene (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Erythrocyte Count (veterinary)
• Hematocrit (veterinary)
• Hematologic Diseases (drug therapy, parasitology, veterinary)
• Heparin (therapeutic use)
• Imidocarb (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Injections, Intramuscular (veterinary)
• Isotonic Solutions (therapeutic use)
• Leukocyte Count (veterinary)
• Male
• Piroplasmida (drug effects)
• Protozoan Infections (drug therapy)
• Protozoan Infections, Animal
• Urinalysis (veterinary)