Bijan Esmaeilnejad - Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Awat Samiei - Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Zahra Darabizade - Private Veterinary Practitioner, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Akhoondi - Private Veterinary Practitioner, Tehran, Iran
Romina Salavati - Private Veterinary Practitioner, Tehran, Iran
Bahar Ahooghalandari - Private Veterinary Practitioner, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Fathipour - Private Veterinary Clinical Pathologist, Tehran, Iran
Arash Akhavan - Private Veterinary Practitioner, Tehran, Iran
Armin Fakheri - Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

A ۶-year-old male domestic short-haired cat (Felis catus) was presented with weakness, anorexia, fever, icterus, a painful abdomen, ruffled hair and a tick infestation, and it had no prior surgery. Laboratory analysis revealed left-shifted neutrophils, thrombocytopenia, low albumin content and high serum bilirubin concentration as well as activities of hepatic enzymes including alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Azotemia and increased serum levels of creatinine and urea were also recorded. In Giemsa-stained blood smear, Hepatozoon gamonts were observed within neutrophils. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was used to amplify an approximately ۵۹۰ bp fragment of ۱۸S rRNA gene and confirmed Hepatozoon felis infection. The cat was treated with imidocarb dipropionate and doxycycline and recovered completely. Six-month follow-up showed no recurrence. This study reveals the presence of H. felis in Iran and it should be considered in differential diagnosis in febrile and icteric cats. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of H. felis infection in a cat in Iran.

Cat, Hepatozoon felis, Iran