@article{birkenheuer_marr_warren_acton_mucker_humphreys_tucker_2008, title={Cytauxzoon felis infections are present in bobcats (Lynx rufus) in a region where cytauxzoonosis is not recognized in domestic cats}, volume={153}, ISSN={["1873-2550"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.01.020}, abstractNote={This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis (C. felis) infections in bobcats (Lynx rufus) from a region where C. felis is recognized in domestic cats, North Carolina (NC), and a region where C. felis is not recognized in domestic cats, Pennsylvania (PA). Samples from NC (n=32) were obtained post-mortem via cardiac puncture from legally trapped bobcats. Samples from PA (n=70) were collected post-mortem onto Nobuto blood collecting strips by the PA Game Commission. Each sample was tested using a C. felis specific PCR assay as well as a PCR assay targeting host DNA to rule out the presence of PCR inhibitors. Three samples were excluded due to the presence of PCR inhibitors. Thirty-three percent (10/30) of the samples from NC and 7% (5/69) of the samples from PA tested positive for the presence of C. felis. The proportion of C. felis positive bobcats from NC was significantly different than that from PA (P<0.005). Despite the lower prevalence of C. felis infections in bobcats from PA this finding is unique and indicates the potential for C. felis infections in domestic cats in the northeastern USA if the appropriate tick vectors are present. Veterinary practitioners in PA should be on alert for cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats. Further studies about the epidemiology and transmission of C. felis infections among both domestic cats and bobcats are needed.}, number={1-2}, journal={VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY}, author={Birkenheuer, Adam J. and Marr, Henry S. and Warren, Camille and Acton, Anne E. and Mucker, Eric M. and Humphreys, Jan G. and Tucker, Melissa D.}, year={2008}, month={May}, pages={126–130} }
 @article{haber_tucker_marr_levy_burgess_lappin_birkenheuer_2007, title={The detection of Cytauxzoon felis in apparently healthy free-roaming cats in the USA}, volume={146}, ISSN={["1873-2550"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.02.029}, abstractNote={Cytauxzoon felis typically causes fatal disease in domestic cats. Survival after infection and persistent parasitemia without clinical illness has been documented in a few cases. To our knowledge there are no prevalence studies of C. felis in domestic cats. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of C. felis infected cats that were presented to trap-neuter-return programs in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. Cats that were presented to trap-neuter-return programs were tested using a C. felis-specific PCR assay. A total of 961 domestic cats were tested (494 from Florida; 392 from North Carolina; 75 from Tennessee). Prevalence of C. felis infection in this population was 0.3%. Two cats from Florida and one cat from Tennessee tested positive for the presence of C. felis DNA. These amplicons were sequenced and confirmed to be C. felis. The cat from Tennessee was alive without evidence of illness 2 months post-surgery. The other two cats were alive 24 h post-surgery, but were then lost to follow-up. This is the first report documenting C. felis infections in free-roaming cats. Despite the low prevalence rate, the presence of apparently healthy infected free-roaming cats suggests that they may have the capacity to serve as an additional reservoir host for C. felis. Further investigations should evaluate the potential vector competence of domestic cats as well as the role of chronically infected cats in areas in which cytauxzoonosis appears hyperendemic.}, number={3-4}, journal={VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY}, author={Haber, Marion D. and Tucker, Melissa D. and Marr, Henry S. and Levy, Julie K. and Burgess, Jill and Lappin, Michael R. and Birkenheuer, Adam J.}, year={2007}, month={May}, pages={316–320} }
 @article{birkenheuer_le_valenzisi_tucker_levy_breitschwerdt_2006, title={Cytauxzoon felisinfection in cats in the mid-Atlantic states: 34 cases (1998–2004)}, volume={228}, ISSN={0003-1488}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.228.4.568}, DOI={10.2460/javma.228.4.568}, abstractNote={Abstract
Objective—To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of feline cytauxzoonosis in the midAtlantic states and compare the Cytauxzoon felis 18S rRNA gene sequences from affected cats with sequences reported from affected cats in other regions.
Design—Retrospective case series.
Animals—34 cats with C felis infection.
Procedure—Medical records of cats in which C felis infection was diagnosed from May 1998 through June 2004 were reviewed; data collected included signalment, month of diagnosis, geographic location, clinicopathologic abnormalities, medical treatments, outcome, and necropsy findings when applicable. Cytauxzoon felis DNA was amplified, cloned, and sequenced from 4 of these cats and compared with previously reported C felis DNA sequences.
Results—Of 34 C felis–infected cats, 28 resided in North Carolina, 3 resided in South Carolina, and 3 resided in Virginia; in 32 cats, a diagnosis of C felis infection was made in April through September. Pancytopenia and icterus were the most common clinicopathologic abnormalities. Thirty-two cats either died or were euthanatized, and 2 cats survived. At 5 veterinary hospitals, multiple cases were identified, and 4 multicat households had > 1 cat infected with C felis. The 18S rRNA gene sequences characterized in organisms obtained from 4 cats were nearly identical to C felis DNA sequences reported from other US regions.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Data indicate that veterinarians in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States should consider C felis infection in cats that become ill with fever, icterus, and pancytopenia or bicytopenia, especially in the spring and summer months.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association}, publisher={American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)}, author={Birkenheuer, Adam J. and Le, Jaime A. and Valenzisi, Amy M. and Tucker, Melissa D. and Levy, Michael G. and Breitschwerdt, Edward B.}, year={2006}, month={Feb}, pages={568–571} }
 @article{birkenheuer_harms_neel_marr_tucker_acton_tuttle_stoskopf_2007, title={The identification of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)}, volume={134}, ISSN={["1469-8161"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-34249725062&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1017/S0031182006002095}, abstractNote={SUMMARYDuring a routine health check of a wild-caught North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) small piroplasms were noted within erythrocytes. Analyses of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences determined that this was a genetically unique organism most closely related to Babesia microti-like parasites found in other small carnivores. Subsequently 39 wild-trapped North American river otters from North Carolina were tested for the presence of piroplasma deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) via polymerase chain reaction and piroplasma DNA was detected in 82% (32/39) of these samples. Sequencing of partial 18S rRNA genes from selected cases determined that they were identical to the sentinel case. This report documents the existence of a genetically unique piroplasma in North American river otters and indicates that the prevalence of piroplasma in North Carolina otters is quite high. The pathogenic potential of this organism for otters or other species remains unknown.}, number={5}, journal={PARASITOLOGY}, author={Birkenheuer, A. J. and Harms, C. A. and Neel, J. and Marr, H. S. and Tucker, M. D. and Acton, A. E. and Tuttle, A. D. and Stoskopf, M. K.}, year={2007}, month={May}, pages={631–635} }