BACKGROUND
Cytauxzoonosis is a highly-fatal disease of domestic cats with limited treatment modalities and a narrow therapeutic window. This condition is common in southeastern and southcentral United States with an estimated mortality of near 100% without treatment. Records from 2014-2020 shows ~97% mortality in cases seen by the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and it is estimated that up to 4110 cats are infected with the Cytauxzoon felis each year in Oklahoma alone. Current standard of care therapies (atovaquone + azithromycin) can increase survival up to 60% in cats with cytauxzoonosis, but they must be instituted early in the course of disease in order to be effective.
Because of the rapid disease progression and severe clinical consequence, early detection is crucial for effective treatment – yet current diagnostic methods have limitations. Diagnosis of cytauxzoonosis is currently based on cytology and confirmatory molecular testing such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Cytologic testing relies on the detection of piroplasms from blood smear, and schizont-laden macrophages in the tissues from spleen, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. Water artifacts and Howell-Jolly bodies are often mistaken for piroplasms in clinical setting which makes the diagnosis less reliable. Difficulty in acquiring samples from the tissues also limits the cytologic test. Standard molecular tests like real-time PCR are limited by cost, long turnaround time, and regional availability. Antibody based IgM ELISA technique offers a fast, cost-effective, and reliable test for early detection of cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats that can be adapted to a bench-side clinical application.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
OSU researchers have developed an antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test to detect early cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats based on Cytauxzoon felis-specific IgM antibodies in plasma samples from cats (94.44% sensitivity, 100% specificity and detection as early as 1 day prior to clinical signs). As IgM antibodies are developed in the early immune response, this newly developed test will be able to detect early stages of acute cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
- Early detection of acute cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats
MAIN ADVANTAGES
- Very sensitive/specific in detecting C. felis IgM antibodies in cats with acute cytauxzoonosis
- Easy to carry out, as it is based on plasma samples
- Can be combined with blood smear evaluation for higher accuracy
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT