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Cytauxzoon Felis Parasite
A single-celled blood parasite that infects both red blood cells and the immune cells lining blood vessels in felines.
Key Facts
- The parasite exists in two main stages: the relatively harmless piroplasm in blood and the highly pathogenic schizont in tissues.
- Schizonts infect and swell immune cells lining blood vessels, leading to widespread vascular blockage and tissue damage.
- The parasite was first identified in the U.S. in 1976 and primarily affects cats in forested regions.
- Bobcats serve as the natural reservoir host where the infection typically remains minor and non-lethal.