1. HEMOPARASITES

2. Hemoparasites Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasma:
Formerly known as Hemobartonella Felis
Parasites that attach to the outside of the RBC and result in hemolytic anemia
Small, gram-negative bacteria that lack a cell wall and infect a variety of mammalian species
Three types have been identified, hemofelis sp., candidatus hemominutum and candidatus turicensis

3. Hemoparasites FHM: 14.5% healthy client owned cats are +
28% sick cats are positive
Risk factors: access to outdoors, fleas, male gender, <4-6 years of age, summer months, FELV+, cat bite abscesses
Transmission through fleas, possibly ticks and lice
Biting, blood transfusion

4. Hemoparasites FHM: Regenerative anemia, unless concurrent with FELV
Every anemic cat should be evaluated for FHM microscopically
Form chains or rings across the surface of the RBC membrane
Can be mistaken for stain precipitate, Howell-Jolly bodies, basophilic stippling, reticulocytes, etc.
Should be confirmed with further testing for organism

5. Hemoparasites

6. Hemoparasites
Cytauxzoon felis: serious, often fatal, protozoal disease affecting domestic cats in the south central and southeastern portions of the United States
The natural reservoir host of C. felis is the North American bobcat
Ticks are believed to be the natural vector for this organism
Erythrocytic and leukocytic

7. Hemoparasites
CF: parasites may appear as round to oval "signet rings" , bipolar, oval, "safety pin" forms, tetrad forms; or anaplasmoid round "dots“
May have a small, peripherally-located nucleus that stains dark red to purple with off- white to light blue cytoplasm when using Giemsa stain.
Small amount of parasites on RBCs, the majority are found on fine needle aspirates of spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow

8. Hemoparasites Babesia canis, gibsonii:
Protozoal organisms that parasitize erythrocytes, causing anemia in the host
Transmission- tick vector, blood to blood contact (bite wounds)
Babesia canis: teardrop shape in RBC, greyhounds
Babesia gibsonii: ring or coccoid object in RBC, pit bulls
Causes hemolytic anemia

9. Hemoparasites
Babesia gibsonii
Babesia canis

10. Hemoparasites
Anaplasma marginale:
Formerly Ehrlichia sp.
Tick vector, blood transfusion
Bacteria-like, causes severs hemolytic anemia

11. Hemoparasites

12. Hemoparasites Microfilaria: Dirofilaria immitis Vector is the mosquito
Tapered ends
Indicates the presence of adult female worms
Can cause damage to RBCs in vessel