Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The first autochthonous case of feline ocular thelaziosis in Austria.
- Journal:
- Parasitology research
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Hodžić, Adnan et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Parasitology
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat in Austria, which had never traveled outside the country, was found to have an eye infection caused by a parasite called Thelazia callipaeda. This parasite can infect both animals and humans and has been seen more frequently in Europe. The cat had watery discharge from its eye, redness, and mild swelling in the right eye. The vet removed the parasite and treated the cat with oral medication and eye drops, which completely cleared up the symptoms in two weeks. This case highlights the need for veterinarians in the area to be more aware of this parasite to help prevent future infections.
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) has increasingly been reported as an agent of ocular infections in animals and humans throughout Europe. Following the cases of canine ocular thelaziosis recently recorded in Austria for the first time, in the present paper, we describe the first case of T. callipaeda infection in an Austrian cat with no history of traveling abroad. This finding further supports the occurrence of the parasite's autochthonous transmission cycle in the country. The cat showed serous ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, and mild conjunctival edema in the right eye. Mechanical removal of the parasite from the cat's eye, in combination with milbemycin oxime/praziquantel oral treatment and topical use of tobramycin/dexamethasone eye drops led to complete resolution of the clinical signs within 2 weeks. Results presented in the current study are of great importance for the local veterinarians who seemed largely unaware of this zoonotic parasite. Therefore, increased awareness of medical and veterinary communities is imperative for preventing further infections in both animals and humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30826924/