Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with abdominal cysts from Echinococcus and FIV infection
By Armua-Fernandez, Maria Teresa et al.·Published in Parasitology international·2014·Institute of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First case of peritoneal cystic echinococcosis in a domestic cat caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotype 1) associated to feline immunodeficiency virus infection.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A domestic cat in Uruguay was brought to the vet because it was having trouble breathing, was constipated, and had a swollen belly. During surgery, the vet found and removed a large number of cysts from the cat's abdomen, which were identified as a type of tapeworm called Echinococcus granulosus. This case was notable because the cat was also infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which may have weakened its immune system and contributed to the development of the cysts. The cat's condition highlights the importance of monitoring for infections in pets with compromised immune systems.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · cat abdominal swelling · feline immunodeficiency virus symptoms · Echinococcus in cats · cat surgery for cysts
Abstract
A new cystic echinococcosis case in a cat in Uruguay is reported herein. The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic in Rocha city, Uruguay, due to dyspnea, constipation and abdominal enlargement. During surgery a large quantity of cysts was retrieved from the abdominal cavity. The cysts were morphologically studied and confirmed as Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotype 1) by molecular tools using cytochrome oxidase submit 1 and small subunit ribosomal RNA gene as target genes. Moreover, for the first time a coinfection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was detected. FIV-induced immunosuppression could be a determining factor in the development of cystic echinococcosis in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24291289/