Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tritrichomonas foetus causing diarrhea in Persian cats in Spain
By Miró, Guadalupe et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2011·Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First description of naturally acquired Tritrichomonas foetus infection in a Persian cattery in Spain.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats in a Persian cattery in Spain was found to have an infection caused by Tritrichomonas foetus, which leads to chronic diarrhea. Out of 20 cats tested, 5 were positive for this parasite, with some diagnosed through various lab methods including microscopy and PCR. The study highlighted that T. foetus can spread among cats, even those that don't show symptoms, and may particularly affect younger or immunocompromised cats. It's important for cat owners to be aware of this infection, especially in multi-cat households, and to consult their veterinarian if their cat shows signs of diarrhea.
People also search for: cat diarrhea causes · Tritrichomonas foetus treatment · Persian cat health issues · how to treat cat intestinal parasites
Abstract
Tritrichomonas foetus has been identified as the causative agent of feline intestinal trichomonosis, characterized by clinical signs of chronic large bowel diarrhoea. This disease has been reported in cats from the USA, Europe and Australia. However, its epidemiology is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to describe T. foetus infection in a Persian cattery in Spain. T. foetus infection was sequentially diagnosed in 20 cats by direct faecal smear examined under the microscope, specific culture (In Pouch TF medium) and PCR. A standard coprological sedimentation method was also performed in order to screen for other intestinal parasites in all the cats included. In addition, sera were tested for IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii, and for the detection of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). Five out of 20 cats were positive for T. foetus (25%), two of them by microscopy, culture and PCR and three by culture and PCR. No association was found between T. foetus infection and age or sex. L. infantum and T. gondii seroprevalence rates were 15% and 10%, respectively. The prevalence of FeLV p27 antigen and of FIV antibodies in the study population was zero. Cystoisospora spp. oocysts were detected in one cat. These preliminary results show that the transmission of T. foetus infection in cluster conditions may occur between asymptomatic cats and young or immunocompromised animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21509446/