Understanding the Lifecycle of Deadly Parasite

Cytauxzoonosis is a highly fatal disease of domestic cats with no effective vaccine and a limited therapeutic window. Attempts to improve diagnostic testing, test new therapies and develop a vaccine are consistently hindered by an inability to culture the infectious parasite, Cytauxzoon felis. In this pilot study, researchers will evaluate if an innovative cell culture system can reproduce the lifecycle of Cytauxzoon felis in an artificial laboratory environment using tick cell cultures and feline macrophages, a type of white blood cell of the immune system. The team will assess the immune function of cats by studying infected macrophages to help identify potential therapeutic targets.  Findings will help establish a unique model system to facilitate the development of diagnostics, evaluation of vaccine candidates and screening of new drugs to help save cats with this serious disease.