Feline Infectious Anemia

Overview and Facts

What is

• Feline Infectious Anemia: An Overview

Cats can be infected by a tiny red blood cell parasite that was formerly called Hemobartonella felis. This disease, which results from a bacterial infection, is referred to as feline infectious anemia. The infectious agents responsible for the disease have been renamed C. Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) for the small sized strain and Mycoplasma haemofelis for the large sized strains. It is important to make this distinction because these two subtypes of the blood parasite produce quite different clinical signs.




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Causes

• Causes of Feline Infectious Anemia
Feline infectious anemia is caused by bacteria which function as a type of blood parasite. Cats can become infected with feline infectious anemia most commonly through flea and tick bites. Infected mothers may also pass the bacteria on to their kittens.

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Symptoms and Types

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Feline Infectious Anemia
Feline infectious anemia causes a decline in the amount of circulating red blood cells in the body. Cats that are infected with this type of condition will commonly display symptoms that are associated with anemia.

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Types

• Types of Feline Infectious Anemia
All cases of feline infectious anemia are caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma haemofelis, and the condition it causes in cats can either be very mild or quite severe. There is a related bacterium, Mycoplasma haemominutum which may also cause a mild form of feline infectious anemia, but it is not as common.

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Treatment and Care

Treatment

• Treating Feline Infectious Anemia
Feline infectious anemia is treated through antibiotic therapies and medications which help to suppress the immune system. In cases where severe anemia has occurred, blood transfusions may be needed.

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