Theresa Rizzi

Dr. Theresa Rizzi


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

21Years (2006-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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8 January 2015 in Parasites & Vectors
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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TRTheresa Rizzi
Theresa Rizzi
Mason ReichardMason Reichard
Mason Reichard
LCLeah A. Cohn
Leah A. Cohn
ABAdam J Birkenheuer
Adam J Birkenheuer
JTJared D. Taylor
Jared D. Taylor
JMJames H Meinkoth
James H Meinkoth
Infection with Cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats can cause fever, lethargy, depression, inappetence, icterus, and often death. With a high mortality rate, cytauxzoonosis was historically considered a fatal disease. Within the last 15 years, cats with or without treatment have been recognized as chronically infected survivors of C. felis infection. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of C. felis in healthy domestic cats from Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Infection with C. felis was determined using DNA extracted from anticoagulated whole blood and PCR amplification using C. felis-specific primers. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests, and odds ratios were used to compare proportions of cats infected with C. felis. Blood samples were collected from 902 healthy domestic cats between October 2008 and April 2012. DNA from Cytauxzoon felis was detected in 56 of 902 (6.2%; 95% confidence interval, 4.7–7.9) samples. The highest prevalence of C. felis infection (15.5%; 10.3–21.7) was observed in cats from Arkansas, followed by cats from Missouri (12.9%; 6.1–24.0), and cats from Oklahoma (3.4%; 2.2–5.1). Cats sampled in Arkansas and Missouri were 5.1 and 4.2, respectively, times more likely to be chronically infected with C. felis than cats from Oklahoma. Infection with C. felis is common in domestic cats through Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The high prevalence of C. felis reported herein suggests that infected domestic cats are likely reservoirs of infection for naive felines. The high prevalence of C. felis substantiates the importance for the use of approved acaricides on cats to prevent cytauxzoonosis.

5 March 2006 in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
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Journal Article
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TRTheresa Rizzi
Theresa Rizzi
RCRick L. Cowell
Rick L. Cowell
JMJames H. Meinkoth
James H. Meinkoth
MGMargi A. Gilmour
Margi A. Gilmour

1 December 2010 in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
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Journal Article
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TRTheresa Rizzi
Theresa Rizzi