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1 September 2010 Confirmation of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) as a Vector for Cytauxzoon felis (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae) to Domestic Cats
Mason V. Reichard, Amy C. Edwards, James H. Meinkoth, Timothy A. Snider, Katrina R. Meinkoth, Rebecca E. Heinz, Susan E. Little
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Abstract

Amblyomma americanum was confirmed as a competent vector in the transmission of Cytauxzoon felis to domestic cats. Infection with C. felis was produced and replicated in four domestic felines by the bite of A. americanum adults that were acquisition fed as nymphs on a domestic cat that survived cytauxzoonosis. Numerous attempts to transmit C. felis with Dermacentor variabilis at the same time were not successful. All cats upon which infected A. americanum were transmission fed exhibited disease typical of cytauxzoonosis, and the eitiologic agent's presence was confirmed. Clinical signs including fever, inappetence, depression, and lethargy were observed beginning 13 d postinfestation. Pale mucus membranes, splenomegaly, icterus, and dyspnea were also observed during the course of the disease. Rectal temperatures of the C. felis-infected principal cats fluctuated from high to subnormal before returning to the normal range. Clinical signs of cytauxzoonsis improved by 24 d postinfestation in all but one cat, with survivors remaining parasitemic and subclinically infected with C. felis. Unengorged A. americanum and D. variabilis were collected from wild habitats to determine the minimum infection rate of C. felis in ticks from an enzootic area. Infection of C. felis was found only in wild-collected A. americanum. The minimum infection rate of C. felis in A. americanum was 0.5% (one of 178) in males, 0.8% (three of 393) in nymphs, and 1.5% (three of 197) in females. We found no wild-collected D. variabilis infected with C. felis. Our results confirm that A. americanum is a primary vector of C. felis.

© 2010 Entomological Society of America
Mason V. Reichard, Amy C. Edwards, James H. Meinkoth, Timothy A. Snider, Katrina R. Meinkoth, Rebecca E. Heinz, and Susan E. Little "Confirmation of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) as a Vector for Cytauxzoon felis (Piroplasmorida: Theileriidae) to Domestic Cats," Journal of Medical Entomology 47(5), 890-896, (1 September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1603/ME10013
Received: 16 January 2010; Accepted: 1 April 2010; Published: 1 September 2010
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KEYWORDS
Amblyomma americanum
Cytauxzoon felis
cytauxzoonosis
Deimacentor variabilis
domestic cats
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