Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptosporidium infection in cats with diarrhea tested by Kinyoun
By de Oliveira Lemos, Francesca et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Pathology, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cryptosporidium species screening using Kinyoun technique in domestic cats with diarrhea.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 60 domestic cats with diarrhea was tested for a parasite called Cryptosporidium, which can cause severe digestive issues, especially in cats with weakened immune systems. The tests revealed that 5 cats (about 8%) were shedding the parasite, with one being healthy and four having feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which can compromise their immune system. This finding highlights the importance of screening for Cryptosporidium in cats with diarrhea, particularly those that are already immunosuppressed. Treatment options would depend on the individual cat's health status and any underlying conditions.
People also search for: cat diarrhea causes · Cryptosporidium in cats · feline leukemia virus symptoms · how to treat cat diarrhea
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a coccidian that can lead to diarrhea, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. Retroviruses are considered a primary cause of immunosuppression in cats. Fecal specimens and blood collected from the 60 cats were evaluated for the presence of acid-fast cryptosporidia in three consecutive stool samples and for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody by ELISA testing. Five animals (8.33%) shedding oocysts were found, one was both FIV- and FeLV-negative and four were FeLV-positive.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22314086/