Mycoplasmosis – an infectious disease that affects the respiratory ways, urogenital system of a cat, its joints, liver, which caused by the smallest microorganisms – prokaryotes mycoplasmas. Mycoplasmas are neither bacteria nor fungi, nor to viruses, they have no cell walls carrying transportation for parasitization, but self-made on cell-free culture media, which complicates the treatment of the patient animal (due to resistance to a number of antibiotics). Mycoplasmas absorbed into the cat’s cells, and eating them, destroy tissue thanks to the waste of their life. In appearance the disease is divided into two forms – acute and chronic. Microorganisms are common in the environment, more than 80% of cats are carriers of mycoplasmas.
Causes of Feline Mycoplasmosis
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Infectious disease mycoplasmosis can be transmitted by domestic, by airborne droplets or sexually, as well as in utero and during delivery time – from cat to babies. Mycoplasmosis is not only contagious contact of a healthy individual with a sick animal, but also when consumed cat food from infected dishes, mycoplasmas can be brought to the house on clothes or shoes (they are contained in soil, on plants). Especially susceptible to disease are kittens and cats of young age, animals with weakened immunity. Often a disease has a hidden course when the animal has no signs diseases, but various bacterial infections, chronic diseases in the acute stage, stress can give impetus to the development of mycoplasmosis. In such cases, secondary infections that can lead to pulmonary edema, liver damage, abortion and other serious consequences. The males who were struck the disease often turns out to be sterile, due to a decrease sperm quality, and female pregnancies are often end with stillbirth, sometimes females become infertile.
Symptoms of mycoplasmosis in cats
The main symptoms of the disease are considered:
- Unilateral (sometimes bilateral) conjunctivitis;
- Profuse lacrimation;
- Serous (sometimes purulent) discharge from the eyes;
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, discharge (rhinitis);
- Frequent sneezing (sometimes coughing);
- Wheezing in the bronchi and lungs;
- Inflammation of the genitourinary system (vaginitis, endometritis, urethritis, jade and others.);
- Damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.);
- Joint erosion, lameness;
- Subcutaneous abscesses;
- Damage to the liver.
Of course, most of the above symptoms appear with lack of timely treatment or in the presence of various diseases (oncology, stress, viral and bacterial infections). The owner should carefully monitor the animal’s appetite, discharge from the eyes, nose, temperature, beyond the external state. It should be remembered that vaccination against mycoplasmosis does not exist, that is why even minor troubling symptoms (sneezing, lacrimation) should be an occasion for a visit to the doctor. TO In addition, often a cat can act as a carrier of infection without suffering while doing it yourself, which is why it’s so important to take care of hygiene of its accessories, and about mating with “proven” cats, about high-quality feed, in a word, about proper care of the pet.
Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis in cats
Tests to determine the nature of the disease are usually involve taking smears from the conjunctiva and swabs from the trachea and laboratory upper respiratory tract PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which is widely used to diagnose infectious diseases.
Treatment of mycoplasmosis in cats
The disease in cats is caused by Mycoplasma felis and Mycoplasma gatae, which are sensitive to group bacteriostatic antibiotics tetracyclines that inhibit the synthesis of microorganisms. Doctor like hepatoprotectors are usually prescribed to support liver after exposure to mycoplasmas and aggressive antibiotic exposure, as well as drugs whose action is intended to protect gastrointestinal tract of a cat. Also sick animal immunomodulators and symptomatic treatment are prescribed in depending on the condition of the animal and the presence of conjunctivitis in it, rhinitis and other complications characteristic of mycoplasmosis. vaccination against mycoplasmosis is not provided, the owner is reasonable monitor the diet of the cat during treatment, isolate it from stray or sick animals. Inoculate timely to the animal, so that no other disease would fatally affect course of mycoplasmosis. Visiting a veterinarian at least once every six months maybe if you do not prevent the disease, then start timely treatment and save the health and life of a furry friend.
