Clinical aspects of cats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology 2010-02, Vol.19 (1), p.85-89
• Main Authors: Da Silva, Aleksandro S, Wolkmer, Patrícia, Costa, Márcio M, Zanette, Régis A, Oliveira, Camila B, Soares, Claudia D. M, Otto, Mateus A, Santurio, Janio M, Lopes, Sonia T. A, Monteiro, Silvia Gonzalez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hematology; Immunization; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Pathology
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-009-0903-y

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical signs of cats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Thirteen adult female nonbreeding Felix catus were separated into two groups: seven animals were infected with 10⁸ trypomastigotes each, and six animals were used as negative controls. Blood smears were performed daily for 56 days. Cardiorespiratory frequency was observed weekly, and blood samples for hematocrit analyses were collected at 15-day intervals. The protozoan was found in the blood 24 to 48 hours post-inoculation and irregular peaks of parasitemia were observed. Hematocrit significantly decreased in the infected group 7 days post-inoculation. Moreover, we observed the same clinical signs in this study that had previously been reported in other species commonly infected by T. evansi, including hyperthermia, lymphadenopathy, cachexia, and generalized edema. Based on these results, we conclude that domestic cats are susceptible to T. evansi infection, showing severe clinical alterations and mortality due to the chronic evolution of the disease.