Cytauxzoon felis PCR test for cats
dog and cat assay data sheet
Cytauxzoon
felis
Test code:
X0025
- Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Cytauxzoon felis by real time polymerase
chain reaction
Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-borne protozoal parasite whose
primary host is the bobcat. C. felis has been found in
Florida bobcats, Eastern bobcats, Texas cougars, and in a captive
white tiger. Transmission to humans and farm animals has not been
reported. Although infected bobcats are usually asymptomatic,
infections of domestic cats by these parasites are usually deadly.
However, some infected domestic cats can remain asymptomatic (Brown et
al., 2008).
Infection with this parasite can be divided in two
phases: the tissue phase consists of distended macrophage schizonts;
the red cell phase is characterized by hemolytic anemia. Many of the
clinical signs and death are apparently due to vascular disease caused
by the tissue phase and are not related to the degree of parasitemia.
The disease is usually diagnosed
by identification of the organism in red blood cells, of schizonts in
tissues, or by fluorescent antibody testing of frozen tissue. No
effective treatment is currently available.
Molecular detection by PCR is
often used to confirm morphological findings on blood smear
examinations, because Cytauxzoon is morphologically similar
to and can be mistaken for a number of other bloodborne pathogens.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of the infection
-
Early prevention of spread of this parasite among a group of
cats
-
Help ensure that animal populations are free of this parasite
-
Minimize human exposure to this parasite
-
Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive
from susceptible animals
References: Brown, H.M., Latimer,
K.S., Erikson, L.E., Cashwell, M.E., Britt, J.O. and Peterson, D.S.
(2008) Detection of persistent Cytauxzoon felis infection by
polymerase chain reaction in three asymptomatic domestic cats. J. Vet.
Diagn. Invest. 20:485-488.
Preferred specimens: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA
(purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen or
preserved tissue.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or
during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen
in transit. See
shipping instructions for more information.
Turnaround time: 2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range: Nondetected
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