2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Two follow-up experiments were designed to test the hypothesis of repeated exposure leading to clinical signs. In Experiment 1, 9 SPF cats were infested with 13 female and 12 male wild caught IS from Rhode Island that had approximately a 50% BB and a 15% AP infection rate, respectively. The IS were placed in chambers (approximately 7 9 10 cm) over a shaved area of the skin for 7 days to maximize potential for feeding. EDTA blood and serum samples were collected from cats prior to infestation and then every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Each blood sample was assayed for AP DNA by PCR and each serum sample was evaluated for the presence of AP and BB antibodies by the SNAP 4DX Plus. A 6 mm skin biopsy punch was used to collect a full thickness biopsy from the shaved area from each cat 8 weeks after IS infestation for BB DNA amplification by PCR. In Experiment 2, the same nine cats were infested with 13 female and 12 male IS. The ticks were released on the fur on the flank of each sedated cat (dexmedetomidine) with counts of attached IS performed 2 days later. Blood and sera were assayed as described in Experiment 1 every 2 weeks for 12 weeks.