A case of Pearsonema eggs in the urine sediment of a cat in Trinidad.

Abstract

Nematodes of the urinary tract of domestic dogs and cats are a rare occurrence. The discovery of the eggs on urine sediment examination is usually an incidental finding. A twenty-one month old intact queen presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a history of a serosanguinous vaginal discharge and reddish colour urine for the last ten days. Complete blood count and biochemistry analysis revealed an inflammatory leukogram and a hyperproteinaemia. A urogenital tract infection was diagnosed as haematuria, pyuria, bacteriuria, proteinuria and alkaline urine were evident on urinalysis examination. Microscopic examination of the urine sediment also detected eggs with asymmetrical bipolar plugs characteristic for Pearsonema species. A distended uterus as well as a raised lesion in the mucosal layer of the urinary bladder were observed with ultrasonography. A routine ovariohysterectomy was performed. The cat was also treated with ivermectin and amoxicillin. The cat improved with the eventual resolution of the red colour urine and serosanguinous vaginal discharge.