Several tick species found in our region include the American dog (wood) tick that caries Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis, the Lone Star tick that has
gradually traveled to the eastern and southern regions of the country and carries Cytauxzoon felis, a life - threatening disease
affecting domestic
cats, and tularemia caused by direct with infected animals like rabbits and rodents from tick or fly bites, and the brown dog tick that carries babesiosis and ehrlichiosis.
It is important to perform the gene test in pedigree Abyssinian and Somali
cats that are intended for breeding so that selective breeding can be carried out to
gradually reduce the number of carriers and so reduce the risk of
affected cats being born.