601-605 for details. Cats with babesiosis are usually younger than 2 years and present with lethargy, anorexia, weakness, rough hair coat and diarrhea. The primary hematologic abnormalities seen in animals with beabesiosis include anemia, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis. A mild normocytic, normochromic anemia is seen in the first few days after infection followed by a macrocytic, hypochromic anemia. Diagnosis is dependent on microscopic observation of piroplasms in Giemsa stained blood films.
Treatment includes both supportive and babesiacidal measures.
The most effective drugs are diminazene aceturate, phenamidine isethionate, and imidocarb dipropionate, none of which are approved in the U.S. Human babesiosis is now more common than in previous years. Recently, an apparently new species of Babesia has been identified in splenecttomized patients in Washington state. ECF is a serious disease of cattle with a high mortality rate. The disease is characterised by lymphoid hyperplasia followed by lymphoid depletion and leucopenia. The incubation period for the disease averages 13 days following exposure.