title: Coagulation abnormalities in 5 cats with naturally occurring cytauxzoonosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize hemostasis and determine if disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is present in cats with cytauxzoonosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five client-owned cats with cytologic and PCR-confirmed cytauxzoonosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Admission samples were collected for hemostasis testing including platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin (AT), d-dimer, protein C, plasminogen, antiplasmin, factors VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI, von Willebrand factor, and thromboelastography. Results were compiled for combined criteria used to define DIC, and all 5 cats satisfied criteria using a previously described modified scoring system for DIC in cats. The abnormalities found in all 5 cats included thrombocytopenia, low protein C activity, and prolonged prothrombin time; however, none of the cats had low AT activity. None of the cats had clinical signs of hemorrhage despite thrombocytopenia, coagulation factor deficiency (5/5 cats), and thromboelastographic evidence of hypocoagulability (2/5 cats). Three of 5 cats survived to hospital discharge. The nonsurvivors had disseminated cytauxzoonosis with schizont-laden macrophages in vessels of various organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report that comprehensively describes the hemostastic status of cats with naturally occurring infection with Cytauxzoon felis. All 5 cats had laboratory evidence of overt DIC. Unlike human and canine models of sepsis-induced DIC, AT deficiency was not found in this series of cats. Further research is warranted to investigate therapeutic strategies targeting thrombotic DIC to improve survival in cats with cytauxzoonosis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
authors.forename: Bobbi J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Conner
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hanel
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY.
authors.forename: Marjory B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Leah A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Birkenheuer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006487:Hemostasis; D008297:Male; D016792:Piroplasmida; D011517:Prothrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen
keywords: disseminated intravascular coagulation; feline; sepsis; thromboelastography