Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tritrichomonas foetus infection, a cause of chronic diarrhea in the domestic cat.
- Journal:
- Veterinary research
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Yao, Chaoqun & Köster, Liza S
- Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical Sciences
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Tritrichomonas foetus is a tiny parasite that can cause chronic diarrhea in cats. This infection is often spread through feces and is more common in young, purebred cats that have a history of diarrhea or other intestinal infections. Understanding this parasite has improved significantly over the years, helping veterinarians diagnose and treat the condition more effectively. The research highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of this infection and the factors that might put a cat at risk. Overall, the findings provide valuable information for veterinarians to better manage and treat cats suffering from this type of diarrhea.
Abstract
Tritrichomonas foetus is a very intriguing trichomonad protozoan with respect to its varied choice of residence in the different host species. It is an obligate parasite of the reproductive and the gastrointestinal tract of bovine and feline host respectively, leading to trichomonosis. Bovine trichomonosis is a sexually transmitted disease whereas feline trichomonosis is a disease with a purported fecal-oral route of spread. Further, the trichomonad is a commensal in the nasal passages, stomach, cecum and colon of swine host. Advances have been exponential in understanding the trichomonad biology and specifically feline trichomonosis since late 1990s and early 2000s when T. foetus was soundly determined to be a causative agent of chronic diarrhea in the domestic cat. It is a challenging task, even for a skilled investigator not to mention the busy clinical veterinarian, to keep up with the vast volume of information. Here we comprehensively reviewed the trichomonad biology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, host immunity, world map of distribution, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. Risk factors associated with T. foetus-positive status in the domestic cat include young age, purebred, history of diarrhea, co-infections with other enteral pathogens. In addition, molecular similarity of bovine and feline isolates of T. foetus in DNA sequence was concisely discussed. The data presented serve as an information source for veterinarians, and investigators who are interested in biology of T. foetus and feline trichomonosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25880025/