Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Metronidazole treatment for giardia infection in cats
By Scorza, Andrea V. & Lappin, Michael R.·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·2004·Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA, United States·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Metronidazole for the treatment of feline giardiasis
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of adult cats with chronic giardiasis (a type of intestinal infection caused by the Giardia parasite) was treated with metronidazole, a common medication for this condition. The cats received the drug twice a day for a week, and their feces were tested to check for the presence of Giardia cysts. The study found that metronidazole effectively reduced or eliminated the shedding of these cysts without causing any noticeable side effects. This suggests that metronidazole can be a safe and effective treatment option for cats suffering from giardiasis.
People also search for: cat giardiasis treatment · metronidazole for cats · cat diarrhea Giardia · symptoms of Giardia in cats
Abstract
There are several drugs available for the treatment of giardiasis in cats, including metronidazole. The purpose of this study was to determine whether metronidazole benzoate administered at a dose of 25 mg/kg, orally, twice a day for 7 days lessens or eliminates Giardia cyst shedding in cats with chronic infection. Twenty-six, adult, laboratory-reared cats were used in this study. Sixteen cats had been inoculated orally with cysts of a human Giardia sp. isolate and had completed a Giardia vaccine study in one animal holding room. The other ten cats were infected with the same Giardia sp. presumably by contamination from the adjacent room where the Giardia vaccine study cats were located. From each cat, a fecal sample was collected within 1 week of the start of treatment and then every 2 to 4 days for 15 days after treatment was completed. Fecal samples were analyzed for the presence of Giardia cysts using a commercially available direct immunofluorescence test (IFA). Clinical signs of drug toxicity were not detected during the study.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.11.007