Parasitology

Fever is defined as a higher than normal body temperature (>102.5) due to altered thermoregulatory mechanisms in the hypothalamus. Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a fever that does not resolve spontaneously and for which no obvious cause is identified. Infectious disease, immune-mediated conditions and neoplasia account for over 75% of FUO cases.

Bartonellosis is an important emerging disease in humans and has been recognized to cause clinical disease in several other species, including dogs and cats. Bartonella henselae is the primary etiologic agent in Cat Scratch Disease, which causes fever and lymphadenopathy in humans.

Dogs with IMHA are usually older than 1 year of age. There does not appear to be a significant gender predisposition. Several breeds have a higher incidence of IMHA, such as cocker spaniels, miniature poodles, old English sheepdogs, and Doberman pinschers. Hereditary erythrocyte disease (PK and PFK deficiency osmotic fragility).

Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-transmitted protozoan disease of cats caused by Cytauxzoon felis that was first reported in Missouri in 1976. Over the next thirty years the disease was only recognized in the southcentral and southeastern United States. Recently the geographic range of the organism has been recognized to extend east and north.

This online on-demand archived Webinar will provide a comprehensive review of developing diagnostic, therapeutic and prevention strategies for emerging tick-borne diseases and will evaluate how to use the latest screening test to manage infection in patients. (1 CE credit)

This online on-demand archived Webinar provides a review of coinfection, with a special focus on Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. (1 CE credit)

Some important infections practitioners should be aware of.

Macon, Ga. -- A U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia ruled that sales of PetArmor Plus by Cipla Ltd. and Velcera Inc. infringed on Merial's patents covering its flea-and-tick product FRONTLINE Plus.

Bel Air, Md. ? The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) unveiled new veterinary data that shows nearly 6 percent of 780,000 fecal samples from pet cats were carrying eggs from feline roundworm, Toxocara cati.

Summer is here when the Companion Animal Parasite Council takes the show on the road in the big RV.

Read this report of the successful treatment of two dogs.

National Report - Only 30 percent of mixed-breed dogs are on monthly flea-and-tick medications, according to a new survey from Mars Veterinary.

Veterinary data from a 2010 survey confirms that heartworm disease was diagnosed in every U.S. state ? and nearly almost every county and parish too.

A recent study examined two treatment options for the tick-borne illness.

Good news regarding the treatment and control of this infection.

Here's your heartworm prevention cheat sheet.

When clients complain that their pets are itchy despite the use of parasite preventives, help them understand the true cause of the symptoms.

Dr. Susan E. Little address the epidemiology and treatment of this tick-borne disease.

One of the scariest tick-borne pathogens is Cytauxzoon felis.

The ability to use anthelmintics to prevent and eliminate parasite infections or disease has been the cornerstone for many parasite control programs. Unfortunately, in many instances, what was a cornerstone has become the whole program.

Echinococcus granulosus is a tiny (~3 mm) tapeworm responsible for cystic echinococcosus in humans. In many regions of the world, this is a major public health problem as well as an important economic issue. As with other tapeworms, the life cycle involves both definitive and intermediate hosts.

Larva migrans (LM) simply refers to the migration and persistence of helminth larvae in tissues of animals and humans and is separated clinically and pathologically into visceral (VLM), ocular (OLM) neural, and cutaneous larva migrans (CLM). There are many helminth parasites that can cause LM; however, Toxocara and Baylisascaris account for the majority of human cases as well as those in other animals.

Giardia is a protozoan parasite frequently detected in a wide variety of animals, including humans. Three major morphological groups are recognized: Giardia muris in mice, G. agilis in from amphibians, and a third group from various warm-blooded animals.

"After all, we are a mobile society and our pets travel with us". We are all probably tired of hearing it, yet, transporting our pets around the world is one of the most significant factors in the emergence of diseases in new geographic areas.

Raw food diets – when will we learn that truly raw foods are the pathway for disaster? In addition to bacterial problems, most tapeworm infections in dogs and cats are a result of eating raw food (prey) or ingesting untreated water. Pets should be fed cooked or prepared food and provided with fresh, potable water.

Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites of a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans, dogs, cats, horses and livestock. They are found throughout the world and are considered to be primary pathogens of both public health and veterinary concern because of their ability to cause gastrointestinal disease, their ubiquitous presence in the environment, and associations with large scale waterborne and foodborne outbreaks.

Madison, N.J. -- Pfizer will discontinue the distribution of ProMeris, a topical flea-and-tick treatment, by fall, the company tells DVM Newsmagazine.

This online on-demand archived Webinar provides a comprehensive review of canine tick-borne disease agents, with a special focus on those that cause ehrlichiosis. (1 CE credit)

8 answers to your questions about canine leptospirosis.

Here's how you can stress the importance of feline heartworm preventives to clients.