Research on deadly disease of cats
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Overview
I am a PhD candidate in the department of Zoology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. I am studying Cytauxzoon felis, a blood parasite that infects domestic and wild cats. I am in the final years of my PhD and I seek to expand my project to incorporate more samples to help fight this deadly parasite of cats.
Figure 1. Elliott holding a bobcat captured for this project. The bobcat was anesthetized and released.
Introduction
Cytauxzoon felis is a blood parasite that infects wild and domestic cats in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. This parasite causes a severe disease called cytauxzoonosis or bobcat fever (bobcats are the reservoir of this disease). Domestic cats are infected with C. felis when a tick bites them and injects the parasite while feeding. Once infected, cats quickly become ill as the parasite replicates in their white blood cells. A cat can go from seemingly healthy to deceased within days.
Figure 2. A blood smear from a cat with cytauxzoonosis. Arrows indicate red blood cells infected with C. felis.
Treatment for cytauxzoonosis is costly and is heavily dependent on quick diagnosis and initialization of treatment. Generally, cats require several days of hospitalization, which can cost thousands of dollars. For many cats, a delay of just a few hours can be fatal. Without treatment, 97% of cats die from cytauxzoonosis.
There is currently an increase in the number of cases of cytauxzoonosis diagnosed in southern Illinois (the location of this study). Numerous veterinarians have reported that they never saw cases of cytauxzoonosis until the late 2000’s. Now clinics are seeing multiple cases per month. A similar increase was documented in Western Kentucky just a few years ago; suggesting the occurrence of this disease is increasing in the region.
We recently found that C. felis is very common in southern Illinois in the reservoir host and ticks. We found that in 2015, 100% of bobcats were infected and 15% of ticks were infected, this is a huge risk to domestic cats! We also found that the percent of bobcats infected has been increasing since 2006 (see Fig 3) (http://www.journalofparasitology.org/doi/abs/10.1645/16-133 ).
Figure 3. A graph of prevalence of C. felis in southern Illinois bobcats from samples dating back to 2006. From Zieman et al. 2017
Research Goals
The overall goal of my research is to find a way to reduce the transmission of cytauxzoonosis to domestic cats. Several aspects of the epidemiology are unknown. My research expands our knowledge on the basics of cytauxzoonosis and will enhance our ability to prevent it.
My specific research goals to be funded by this campaign are as follows:
Characterize the genetic diversity of C. felis in bobcats, domestic cats, and ticks
Evaluate the population genetics of C. felis among the 3 hosts to determine the most common route of transmission (domestic cat to domestic cat, bobcat to domestic cat, etc.)
Determine if a specific genotype is associate with pathology in domestic cats (compare C. felis DNA in sick cats to that in asymptomatically infected cats)
Methods
This project will be conducted in southern Illinois. This region is ideal to study C. felis because there is a large and dense population of bobcats. Ticks are also very densely populated in the region. Domestic cats are common and are often kept as indoor/outdoor pets.
Samples from domestic cats were obtained from veterinary clinics in southern Illinois. Samples were obtained from cats not presenting with any symptoms (asymptomatic cats) that were at the clinics for reasons other than suspected cytauxzoonosis. Samples were also collected from cats suspected of cytauxzoonosis. Veterinary staff collected all samples.
Bobcat samples were obtained from several sources. The first source was archived samples from previous studies conducted at SIU. The second source was road-killed bobcats we have collected (and continue to collect). The third source was bobcats that were trapped, anesthetized and had blood samples taken; the bobcats were released after samples were taken. All procedures for trapping and handling bobcats were approved by SIU IACUC (project number 14-060, institution animal assurance number A-3078-01).
The cost to screen blood samples for the presence of C. felis is $3.96 per sample ($2.76 for DNA extraction, $1.20 for nested PCR). DNA sequencing costs $5.14 per sample, per gene.
Ticks were collected by tick-dragging techniques. Ticks were not released after sampling and were killed upon collection. Numerous sites were selected in southern Illinois to obtain ticks from several localities.
Figure 4. Ticks collected for screening for the presence of C. felis. These ticks were collected from the same location.
The cost to screen ticks is slightly less because we use a different DNA extraction that will not work for blood this extraction costs $1.40 per sample bringing the screening for each tick to $2.60. DNA sequencing is the same at $5.14 per gene/sample.
Immediately upon collection of samples, blood films were made to directly observe the parasites in the red blood cells of the hosts. DNA was extracted from samples. PCR and DNA sequencing will be conducted on the DNA extractions. For more detailed methods on DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing see: Elliott A. Zieman, F. Agustin Jimenez, and Clayton K. Nielsen (2017) Concurrent examination of bobcats and ticks reveals high prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in southern Illinois. Journal of Parasitology In-Press. (http://www.journalofparasitology.org/doi/abs/10.1645/16-133 )
What the funds will be used for
The funds from this campaign will be spent strictly on lab work. I have made several cost reductions during my project that maximize the data I can obtain from limited funds. DNA sequencing will be the primary cost. Most DNA extractions have already been done. If my goal is achieved (or surpassed) I will sequence 3 genes from ~200 bobcats, ~60 ticks, ~50 sick domestic cats, and ~100 asymptomatic cats. The total amount requested for this project is $8,650.62. ($6,322.20 for DNA sequencing, $1,386 for DNA extractions from blood samples, $156 for DNA extraction from ticks, and an error/waste rate of 10%)
If funding significantly exceeds my goal I will use next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology to sequence the entire genome of C. felis from several hosts to search for specific causes of pathology. This will also allow me to identify variable regions in the genome to target with traditional sequencing across a larger number of samples. The cost for NGS is $1,200 per sample including sample preparation and the cost of sequencing.
Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding cytauxzoonosis or this project. You can also find more detailed information on my website: elliottzieman.weebly.com .
Sincerely,
Elliott Zieman
[email redacted]
I am a PhD candidate in the department of Zoology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. I am studying Cytauxzoon felis, a blood parasite that infects domestic and wild cats. I am in the final years of my PhD and I seek to expand my project to incorporate more samples to help fight this deadly parasite of cats.
Figure 1. Elliott holding a bobcat captured for this project. The bobcat was anesthetized and released.Introduction
Cytauxzoon felis is a blood parasite that infects wild and domestic cats in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. This parasite causes a severe disease called cytauxzoonosis or bobcat fever (bobcats are the reservoir of this disease). Domestic cats are infected with C. felis when a tick bites them and injects the parasite while feeding. Once infected, cats quickly become ill as the parasite replicates in their white blood cells. A cat can go from seemingly healthy to deceased within days.
Figure 2. A blood smear from a cat with cytauxzoonosis. Arrows indicate red blood cells infected with C. felis. Treatment for cytauxzoonosis is costly and is heavily dependent on quick diagnosis and initialization of treatment. Generally, cats require several days of hospitalization, which can cost thousands of dollars. For many cats, a delay of just a few hours can be fatal. Without treatment, 97% of cats die from cytauxzoonosis.
There is currently an increase in the number of cases of cytauxzoonosis diagnosed in southern Illinois (the location of this study). Numerous veterinarians have reported that they never saw cases of cytauxzoonosis until the late 2000’s. Now clinics are seeing multiple cases per month. A similar increase was documented in Western Kentucky just a few years ago; suggesting the occurrence of this disease is increasing in the region.
We recently found that C. felis is very common in southern Illinois in the reservoir host and ticks. We found that in 2015, 100% of bobcats were infected and 15% of ticks were infected, this is a huge risk to domestic cats! We also found that the percent of bobcats infected has been increasing since 2006 (see Fig 3) (http://www.journalofparasitology.org/doi/abs/10.1645/16-133 ).
Figure 3. A graph of prevalence of C. felis in southern Illinois bobcats from samples dating back to 2006. From Zieman et al. 2017Research Goals
The overall goal of my research is to find a way to reduce the transmission of cytauxzoonosis to domestic cats. Several aspects of the epidemiology are unknown. My research expands our knowledge on the basics of cytauxzoonosis and will enhance our ability to prevent it.
My specific research goals to be funded by this campaign are as follows:
Characterize the genetic diversity of C. felis in bobcats, domestic cats, and ticks
Evaluate the population genetics of C. felis among the 3 hosts to determine the most common route of transmission (domestic cat to domestic cat, bobcat to domestic cat, etc.)
Determine if a specific genotype is associate with pathology in domestic cats (compare C. felis DNA in sick cats to that in asymptomatically infected cats)
Methods
This project will be conducted in southern Illinois. This region is ideal to study C. felis because there is a large and dense population of bobcats. Ticks are also very densely populated in the region. Domestic cats are common and are often kept as indoor/outdoor pets.
Samples from domestic cats were obtained from veterinary clinics in southern Illinois. Samples were obtained from cats not presenting with any symptoms (asymptomatic cats) that were at the clinics for reasons other than suspected cytauxzoonosis. Samples were also collected from cats suspected of cytauxzoonosis. Veterinary staff collected all samples.
Bobcat samples were obtained from several sources. The first source was archived samples from previous studies conducted at SIU. The second source was road-killed bobcats we have collected (and continue to collect). The third source was bobcats that were trapped, anesthetized and had blood samples taken; the bobcats were released after samples were taken. All procedures for trapping and handling bobcats were approved by SIU IACUC (project number 14-060, institution animal assurance number A-3078-01).
The cost to screen blood samples for the presence of C. felis is $3.96 per sample ($2.76 for DNA extraction, $1.20 for nested PCR). DNA sequencing costs $5.14 per sample, per gene.
Ticks were collected by tick-dragging techniques. Ticks were not released after sampling and were killed upon collection. Numerous sites were selected in southern Illinois to obtain ticks from several localities.
Figure 4. Ticks collected for screening for the presence of C. felis. These ticks were collected from the same location. The cost to screen ticks is slightly less because we use a different DNA extraction that will not work for blood this extraction costs $1.40 per sample bringing the screening for each tick to $2.60. DNA sequencing is the same at $5.14 per gene/sample.
Immediately upon collection of samples, blood films were made to directly observe the parasites in the red blood cells of the hosts. DNA was extracted from samples. PCR and DNA sequencing will be conducted on the DNA extractions. For more detailed methods on DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing see: Elliott A. Zieman, F. Agustin Jimenez, and Clayton K. Nielsen (2017) Concurrent examination of bobcats and ticks reveals high prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in southern Illinois. Journal of Parasitology In-Press. (http://www.journalofparasitology.org/doi/abs/10.1645/16-133 )
What the funds will be used for
The funds from this campaign will be spent strictly on lab work. I have made several cost reductions during my project that maximize the data I can obtain from limited funds. DNA sequencing will be the primary cost. Most DNA extractions have already been done. If my goal is achieved (or surpassed) I will sequence 3 genes from ~200 bobcats, ~60 ticks, ~50 sick domestic cats, and ~100 asymptomatic cats. The total amount requested for this project is $8,650.62. ($6,322.20 for DNA sequencing, $1,386 for DNA extractions from blood samples, $156 for DNA extraction from ticks, and an error/waste rate of 10%)
If funding significantly exceeds my goal I will use next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology to sequence the entire genome of C. felis from several hosts to search for specific causes of pathology. This will also allow me to identify variable regions in the genome to target with traditional sequencing across a larger number of samples. The cost for NGS is $1,200 per sample including sample preparation and the cost of sequencing.
Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding cytauxzoonosis or this project. You can also find more detailed information on my website: elliottzieman.weebly.com .
Sincerely,
Elliott Zieman
[email redacted]
Organizer
Elliott Zieman
Organizer
Carbondale, IL