2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The most significant finding from this study is the high rate of infection with M. hemocanis (17%) as diagnosed by qPCR. Mycoplasma infection is not a common differential in island dogs due to the well-known high level exposures (ELISA) and infections (qPCR) with E. canis (34% and 11%, respectively). The importance of Mycoplasma infections will require further study; however, the data implicates the importance of including an exhaustive list of differentials when suspecting a vector-borne infection. Island geography, ecosystems, tick burdens, and dog demographics may aid veterinarians in the diagnosis of clinical disease with these pathogens. Cytauxzoonosis is a deadly tick-borne disease of domestic and wild felids. Cytauxzoon felis is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis. Bobcats (Felis rufus), the wild reservoir host, largely remain clinically unaffected. Although C. felis infection of domestic cats can be fatal, documented subclinical C. felis-infections have been found and may provide an additional source of infection to na€ ıve cats.