Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat in Austria diagnosed with liver parasite Opisthorchis felineus
By Kulmer, Lisa-Maria et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2025·Department for Companion Animals and Horses·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First autochthonous case of Opisthorchis felineus in Austria.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female neutered European Shorthair cat was brought to the vet in May 2023 because she was losing weight, not eating, and vomiting. Tests showed that her liver enzymes were elevated, indicating liver issues, and further examination revealed the presence of a parasite called Opisthorchis felineus, which can cause serious liver problems. This case is notable as it is the first recorded instance of this parasite being found in Austria. The cat's treatment would likely focus on addressing the liver issues and managing the infection.
People also search for: cat vomiting weight loss liver problems · Opisthorchis felineus in cats · cat anorexia treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Opisthorchis felineus is a feline pathogen with zoonotic potential that can be a causative agent of human opisthorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma. In Europe, O. felineus is particularly endemic in Eastern European countries, while this parasite has also been sporadically detected in Germany, Italy and northern Poland. Parts of Asia, such as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, are also affected. METHODS: A 7-year-old female neutered European Shorthair cat, without any traveling history, presented in May 2023 with weight loss, anorexia and vomiting. RESULTS: The cat showed increased liver enzyme activities, hyperbilirubinemia and hyperammonemia consistent with the suspected diagnosis of cholangitis with consecutive hepatoencephalopathy. Eggs of O. felineus were detected by routine cytological examination of bile smears and PCR confirmed O. felineus. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of autochthonous O. felineus infection in Austria.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39838451/