Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoal blood parasite that affects felid species such as bobcats and domestic cats. It is transmitted by dog ticks (Dermacentor) and Lone Star ticks (Ambylomma). Although we have these ticks in New York, the parasite hasn’t been confirmed further north than Pennsylvania.
The WHP collaborated with the parasitology lab at AHDC to develop a test for Cytauxzoon felis. We supplied the lab with tick samples from across the state, as well as providing tissue samples for examination. The tissue samples are from our tissue bank, as well as hunter-harvested and road-killed animals.
This real-time PCR assay, which detects tick-borne C. felis in felines, is now available - https://app.vet.cornell.edu/ahdc-portal/test-fee.
