Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with cystic echinococcosis infection found in Italy
By P. Bonelli et al.·Published in Parasite·2018·View original on Semantic Scholar →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Cystic echinococcosis in a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Italy
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female cat in Italy was taken to the vet because her belly was swollen. An ultrasound revealed multiple fluid-filled sacs in her abdomen, which were later confirmed to be caused by a parasite called Echinococcus granulosus. This parasite can be transmitted from dogs and wild animals, and it’s the first reported case of this condition in cats in Italy. The cat underwent surgery to remove the cysts, and while the outcome is not detailed, the procedure was successful in addressing the issue.
People also search for: cat swollen belly · Echinococcus granulosus in cats · cat abdominal surgery · cystic echinococcosis treatment
Abstract
Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is a zoonotic agent with a life cycle consisting of definitive hosts (dogs and wild carnivores), and intermediate hosts (usually ungulates). Other animals and humans may accidentally ingest eggs and contract cystic echinococcosis, acting as aberrant hosts. A 3-year-old neutered female cat was brought to a veterinary practice in Sassari (Italy) with abdominal distension. Ultrasound showed multiple intraperitoneal vesicles, which on laparotomy were found to be metacestodes of E. granulosus. Videos of the extraction of cysts are provided. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene identified the isolate as E. granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1, the most common genotype circulating in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. This is the first case report of cystic echinococcosis in domestic cats from Italy.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/29727269