Diarrhea associated with trichomonosis in cats

Citation
Jl. Gookin et al., Diarrhea associated with trichomonosis in cats, J AM VET ME, 215(10), 1999, pp. 1450-1454
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Veterinary Medicine/Animal Health
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
ISSN journal
00031488 → ACNP
Volume
215
Issue
10
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1450 - 1454
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-1488(19991115)215:10<1450:DAWTIC>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Objective-To establish clinical features, course of illness, and treatment outcome of cats with diarrhea and concurrent infection with Trichomonas org anisms. Prevalence of fecal trichomonads in a geographically comparable pop ulation of healthy indoor and feral cats also was assessed. Design-Longitudinal study and a cohort study. Animals-32 cats with diarrhea and naturally acquired trichomonosis that wer e native to North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, and Tennessee; 20 health y indoor cats; and 100 feral cats. Procedure-Trichomonosis was diagnosed in 32 cats by identification of organ isms in fresh feces or by protozoal culture of feces. Results-Diarrhea associated with the large intestine and trichomonosis were diagnosed in 32 cats. Median age of the cats was 9 months; 23 cats were le ss than or equal to 1 year old at the time of diagnosis; Two cats developed diarrhea accompanied by infection with Trichomonas organisms after the add ition of an infected kitten into the home. Duration of diarrhea ranged from 2 days to 3 years. Six cats had a coexisting enteric infection. Treatment with antimicrobials improved fecal consistency and reduced the number of fl agellates in the feces, but did not eliminate infection. Diarrhea (with mic roscopically detectable flagellates) was observed shortly after antibiotics were discontinued. Trichomonads were not recovered from feces of any healt hy indoor or feral cats. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Our findings suggest that trichomonosis may be a cofactor in development of diarrhea in young cats. Trichomonas org anisms were not identified as part of the indiginous fauna of healthy indoo r or feral cats.