Cat-Associated Bartonella Disease: Key Features & Sympt

Popularity Characteristics

The disease is commonly transmitted through bites, scratches, or through the bloodsucking of fleas, ticks, and mites. Cats with other infectious diseases, parasitic infections, tumors, or pregnant females, who are also exposed to adverse external factors, may experience a weakened immune system, leading to the manifestation of clinical symptoms.

Clinical Symptoms

The incubation period ranges from 8 to 15 days.

(1) Acute Phase

The cat may exhibit elevated body temperature, lack of energy, weakness, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, increased heart rate, and breathing rate. Anemia, mild jaundice, and hemoglobinuria may also occur.

(2) Chronic Phase

There may be no change in body temperature, but the cat may show a decrease in appetite and weight loss.

Pathological Changes

Enlarged spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well as bone marrow hyperplasia, may be observed.

Differential Diagnosis

Cat Bartonellosis and Feline Nephritis can be differentiated based on clinical symptoms such as fever, lack of energy, loss of appetite, and hemoglobinuria.

Difference: Feline Nephritis cases are noncommunicable, and the kidney area is sensitive to palpation, with swelling in the chest and abdomen. Urinalysis may reveal renal epithelial cells.

Reminders

The disease primarily presents with symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, increased heart and breathing rates, anemia, and hematuria. Blood tests may show spherical or rodshaped granules (Bartonella) within red blood cells.

Preventive Measures

(1) Prevention

① Inspect the cat for external parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites. If any are found, immediate treatment for external parasites should be administered.

② If the cat has a wound, apply iodine tincture to prevent the disease from entering.

(2) Treatment

First, eliminate the parasites, and then use medications to reduce inflammation and enhance hematopoiesis.

① Tetracycline, at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight, with 50100 ml of dextrose saline, administered slowly via intravenous infusion, is highly effective.

② Neosalvarsan, at a dose of 0.0150.03 grams, administered slowly via intravenous infusion (if it leaks outside the vein, it can cause necrosis).

③ Oxytetracycline, at a dose of 1520 mg/kg body weight, taken orally three times a day for three weeks.

④ Sodium arsphenamine, at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg body weight, administered intravenously once, followed by a repeat injection one day later (this drug is toxic, and it has not been approved for use in some countries).

⑤ For hematopoiesis, use 510 drops of ferrous sulfate syrup twice a day; or inject 1 ml of维生素B12 (which contains 25 mg) subcutaneously.