zithromax and Cat-Diseases

The current recommended treatment for feline chlamydophilosis involves daily oral administration of antimicrobials to all cats within an affected group for a prolonged period of time (4-6 weeks). Not surprisingly, owner compliance can be poor resulting in apparent treatment failure. Recent anecdotal evidence, supported by its efficacy in the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in humans, has suggested that azithromycin may offer an alternative by allowing less frequent dosing for a shorter duration. A clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of azithromycin for the treatment of chlamydia (Chlamydophila felis) infection in cats. Whilst azithromycin, given at 10-15 mg/kg daily for 3 days and then twice weekly, provided a similar, rapid resolution of clinical signs and negative isolation scores as doxycycline, C felis was re-isolated in four out of the five cats treated. Furthermore, even daily administration of azithromycin to chronically infected cats was ineffective in clearing infection. The azithromycin protocols used here were therefore found to be unsuccessful in eliminating the carriage of this strain of C felis.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Chlamydophila; Chlamydophila Infections; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Male; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Treatment Outcome

In the present study, we reported the natural infection by Leishmania sp. in a domestic cat, in which the amastigote forms of the parasite were observed within a lesion on its ear-tip. Fragment of the lesion was obtained and cultured in NNN medium, and PCR-RFLP analysis of the isolated sample was performed, which revealed that the profile was compatible with Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. This is the first proven case of a cat infected by L. (L.) amazonensis reported in Belém city, Pará state, northern Brazil.

Topics: Allopurinol; Animals; Azithromycin; Brazil; Cat Diseases; Cats; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Leishmania mexicana; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Skin Diseases; Trypanocidal Agents

Atovaquone and azithromycin (A&A) with supportive care improve survival rates in cats with cytauxzoonosis. Resistance to atovaquone via parasite cytochrome b gene (cytb) mutations occurs in other Apicomplexan protozoans but is not described in Cytauxzoon felis.. To serially characterize the C. felis cytb sequences from a cat that remained persistently infected after A&A treatment.. A cat with naturally occurring C. felis infection.. Case report of the anemic cat persistently infected with C. felis before, during and after A&A treatment. Cytauxzoon felis cytb genes were amplified and sequenced before, during and after A&A treatment.. Cytauxzoon felis was detected before, during and after A&A treatment including samples collected 570 days after treatment. After A&A treatment, the cat's anemia improved slightly. Cytb sequencing revealed only wild-type cytb methionine (M128) in samples collected before treatment. In samples collected after treatment, the cytb coded for isoleucine (M128I) and valine (M128I) at 2- and 4-months after treatment. These M128I and M128V mutations persisted even after a repeat treatment course with a higher dose atovaquone combined with the standard dose of azithromycin.. This report documents C. felis atovaquone resistance associated with M128 cytb mutations. This study suggests parasites with mutations of cytb M128 can be selected and impart resistance to A&A treatment even with higher atovaquone dosing.

Topics: Animals; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cytochromes b; Felis; Mutation; Protozoan Infections, Animal

Cytauxzoon felis is a virulent, tick-transmitted, protozoan parasite that infects felines. Cytauxzoonosis was previously thought to be uniformly fatal in domestic cats. Treatment combining atovaquone and azithromycin (A&A) has been associated with survival rates of over 60%. Atovaquone, a ubiquinone analogue, targets C. felis cytochrome b (cytb), of which 30 unique genotypes have been identified. The C. felis cytb genotype cytb1 is associated with increased survival rates in cats treated with A&A. The purpose of this study was to design a PCR panel that could distinguish C. felis cytb1 from other cytochrome b genotypes. Primer pairs were designed to span five different nucleotide positions at which single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the C. felis cytb gene had been identified. Through the use of high-resolution melt analysis, this panel was predicted to distinguish cytb1 from other cytb genotypes. Assays were validated using samples from 69 cats with cytauxzoonosis for which the C. felis cytb genotypes had been characterized previously. The PCR panel identified C. felis cytb1 with 100% sensitivity and 98.2% specificity. High-resolution melt analysis can rapidly provide prognostic information for clients considering A&A treatment in cats with cytauxzoonosis.

Topics: Alleles; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cytochromes b; Genotype; Genotyping Techniques; Piroplasmida; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Protozoan Proteins; Sensitivity and Specificity; Transition Temperature; Veterinary Medicine

Cytauxzoon felis, an emerging virulent protozoan parasite that infects domestic cats, is treated with atovaquone and azithromycin (A&A). Atovaquone targets parasite cytochrome b. We characterized the C. felis cytochrome b gene (cytb) in cats with cytauxzoonosis and found a cytb genotype that was associated with survival in A&A-treated cats.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cytochromes b; Pharmacogenetics; Piroplasmida; Protozoan Infections

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Enrofloxacin; Female; Fluoroquinolones; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Patient Compliance; Rifampin; Treatment Outcome

To date Cryptosporidium muris has been identified by microscopy and genotyping in cats in two studies. We report morphological and genetic evidence of a mixed C. muris and C. felis infection in a cat and provide the first histological, immunohistochemical, in situ hybridisation and genetic confirmation of a C. muris infection in the stomach of a cat. The cat suffered persistent diarrhoea after the initial consultation, which remained unresolved, despite several medical interventions. Further studies are required to determine the range, prevalence and clinical impact of Cryptosporidium species infecting cats.

Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Diarrhea; Male

Using Bartonella henselae isolates from cats and a human, the activity of pradofloxacin was compared with those of enrofloxacin and azithromycin. By Etest and disc diffusion assay, pradofloxacin showed greater antimicrobial activity than did other antibiotics. We conclude that pradofloxacin may prove useful for the treatment of B. henselae infections.

Topics: Angiomatosis, Bacillary; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Bartonella henselae; Cat Diseases; Cat-Scratch Disease; Cats; Enrofloxacin; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Bacteremia; Bacterial Proteins; Bartonella henselae; Cat Diseases; Cats; DNA Gyrase; DNA Mutational Analysis; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Enrofloxacin; Fluoroquinolones; Mutation; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Thirty-one cats showing clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease with a presumed bacterial component based on clinical signs were administered either amoxycillin or azithromycin to determine which drug protocol was optimal for empirical use. A clinical score was determined and nasal and pharyngeal swabs were collected for bacterial culture, virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction prior to the start of therapy. Cats failing to respond to the initial antibiotic were then administered the other drug. There were no differences in clinical scores between the two groups at the start of therapy. Eleven of 31 cats improved after administration of the first antibiotic, 16 cats were switched to the alternate antibiotic, and four cats were removed from the study for additional supportive treatments. Eight of 27 cats failed to respond to either antibiotic. The chi2 test for outcomes revealed no differences in response to therapy for either antimicrobial.

Topics: Amoxicillin; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Male; Random Allocation; Respiratory Tract Infections; Treatment Outcome

To describe clinical and laboratory findings associated with cats experimentally infected by inoculation with the 2 recognized genotypes of Hemobartonella felis (small variant, Hfsm; large variant, Hflg) and to determine the response of cats to treatment with azithromycin.. 18 young adult domestic shorthair cats of both sexes.. Cats were inoculated with H felis and monitored weekly, using CBC counts and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) designed to detect both genetic variants of H felis. Beginning 26 days after inoculation, 11 cats were administered azithromycin (15 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h, for 7 days).. Inoculation resulted in coinfection with Hflg and Hfsm, and both variants were detected by PCR. Clinical abnormalities and anemia were most severe in Hflg- and dual-infected cats. Results of PCR and CBC were positive for H felis in 112/112 (100%) and 42/112 (37.5%), respectively, samples collected after inoculation. Administration of azithromycin had little effect on clinical variables, including anemia. All cats, regardless of treatment with azithromycin, had positive results for the PCR at the end of the study period.. In these cats, Hflg was more pathogenic than Hfsm, and coinfection with both variants was detected. Results of the PCR were superior to results of CBC for detecting infection with H felis. Azithromycin administered at the dose and duration reported here was not efficacious for the treatment of cats with hemobartonellosis.

Topics: Anaplasmataceae; Anaplasmataceae Infections; Anemia; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cat Diseases; Cats; DNA, Bacterial; Female; Hematocrit; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

To evaluate efficacy of 3 short-term treatments in cats naturally infected with Helicobacter heilmannii.. 29 cats infected with H heilmannii that had positive results for a urea breath test, rapid urease test, and Helicobacter species-specific polymerase chain reaction test.. Cats anesthetized for routine surgical procedures were randomly allocated to 4 groups: group 1, control cats; group 2, cats treated with azithromycin, tinidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth once daily for 4 days; group 3, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 4 days; and group 4, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 7 days. Efficacy was determined on the basis of results of a urea breath test performed 10 and 42 days after end of treatment.. Ten days after treatment, 0 of 4, 4 of 6, 11 of 11, and 8 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, had a negative result for a urea breath test. Forty-two days after treatment, 0 of 4, 3 of 6, 7 of 11, and 4 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, still had a negative result.. Treatments used in this study regularly suppressed breath 13CO2 production. However, although 23 of 25 (92%) cats had negative results for a urea breath test 10 days after treatment, only 14 of 25 (56%) cats still had negative results 42 days after treatment. It is difficult to achieve a definitive long-term cure in cats naturally infected with H heilmannii.

Topics: Animals; Antacids; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Antitrichomonal Agents; Azithromycin; Biopsy; Bismuth; Breath Tests; Carbon Dioxide; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cat Diseases; Cats; Clarithromycin; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Helicobacter; Helicobacter Infections; Male; Metronidazole; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Ranitidine; Stomach Diseases; Tinidazole; Urea