Cats having breathing difficulties may require oxygen. Mycoplasm haemofelis is the bacterium which is the most common pathogen causing feline infectious anemia. - Causes, My Dog Keeps Licking her Private Area - All Possible Reasons. However, not all infected cats develop anaemia. It is possible it is passed on during gestation, but it could also occur from nursing after birth. While treatment options are available, if the anemia is acute enough infection can prove fatal. The natural mode of transmission is thought to be via fleas and tick bites where the parasite passes infected blood from one cat to another. It is not possible to culture Feline Haemoplasmas because they cannot survive outside the host cell. Infectious anemia can be transferred to any cat through fleas and ticks that have fed on an infected animal, however cats with weak immune systems are more at risk. It is not possible to culture Feline Haemoplasmas because they cannot survive outside the host cell. A thorough evaluation of the animal needs to be enacted, taking care to note their clinical history, accompanying symptoms, various analytical factors and physical examinations. Feline infectious anemia, also known as hemobartonellosis, affects cats of all ages and breeds. These bacteria have no cell wall and most of them live within or on the host cell. In this AnimalWised article, we take a look at feline mycoplasma leading to feline infectious anemia. Recovered cats can still carry the organism in small numbers in their blood, although they will show no clinical signs. As spring and summer are the times of the year when transmission risk is greatest, this routine must continues throughout the year. We use cookies to improve our website to make sure you have a better browsing experience. These animals, however, are carriers and can transmit it to other animals which may develop symptoms. Bites and scratches from infected cats may also spread the infection. Corticosteroids may sometimes be used along with antibiotics to suppress any immune-mediated destruction of red blood cells. Clinical signs of anaemia include tiredness, lethargy, weakness, a reduced appetite, and pale gums (pallor). If feline infectious anemia develops, the vet will need to run a few diagnostic tests. Severely anaemic cats may require blood transfusions. The body’s immune system tries to destroy these parasites but in the process also destroys the affected red blood cells, leading to anemia. The spring/summer seasons are also a time when infection is more likely due to the greater number of vectors in the form of fleas and ticks. She enjoys photography, gardening and running in her spare time.Full author bio Contact Julia. This is most effective is a surgical procedure which removes sexual organs and also benefits the cat in other ways. Specially stained blood smears can also be examined microscopically to look for the organism on the surface of red blood cells, but this is very unreliable as the organism is not always present in blood smears and also artefacts on the blood smear may be mistakenly identified as organisms.