Background and Aim: Feline platynosomiasis, also known as lizard poisoning, is a feline hepatic disease caused by the parasitic trematode Platynosomum fastosum. Since this helminth resides in biliary ducts and gallbladder, the heavy infection can lead to failure of the hepatobiliary system and can be associated with cholangiocarcinoma. The primary diagnostic tool currently used is conventional fecal microscopy. However, low sensitivity of detection could occur in the case of light infection or biliary obstruction. This study aimed to determine the antibody-specific pattern of P. fastosum crude antigen and to identify immunoreactive proteins to develop the immunodiagnostic techniques. Materials and Methods: We investigated potential antigens specific to P. fastosum infection using western blotting. Forty-six samples of cat serum, including 16 P. fastosum-infected sera, eight healthy control sera, and 22 sera infected with other endoparasites were used. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of each band were calculated. Immunoreactive bands with high diagnostic values were further analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify the protein components. Results: Using immunoblotting, three proteins of 72 kDa, 53 kDa, and 13 kDa were found to be immunogenic. LC-MS/MS identified these proteins as a 70 kDa heat shock protein, a hypothetical protein (CRM22_002083) (adenosine triphosphate synthase subunit beta), and histone H2B, respectively. Conclusion: This study is the first to reveal three proteins that could be candidates for developing diagnostic tools for feline platynosomiasis.

Platynosomum fastosum is a cat liver fluke causing hepatobiliary diseases in cats. To evaluate the criterior to support the suspicion index for early disease detection during subclinical infection, the biochemical parameters composed of liver, pancreatic enzymes, tumor markers were evaluated in 14 P. fastosum naturally-infected cats. As a result, alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were found elevated in 57.8% (8/14) of infected cats. For the diagnostic imaging, bile sediments were present in 85.7% (12/14) of infected cats in their gallbladders. Since the number of bile-derived P. fastosum eggs were significantly higher than that from fecal samples (p=0.001), percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis seemed to be promising to be implemented as a tool for final diagnosis. To establish the fundamental data on ultrastructural characteristics of P. fastosum adult and egg for further drug testing as no effective drug available, scanning electron microscope was used to reveal the tegumental surface in which it was covered with densely packed villous-like projections and papillae. Using transmission electron microscope, at least one type of tegumental cell was found producing 2 types of tegumental granules inside P. fastosum adult tegument. To develop serodiagnostic assay, antigenic components of P. fastosum were characterized and 3 immunogenic proteins (70kDa, 53kDa and 13kDa) were identified and the sequences were characterized.

Background and Aim: People who used to rear companion animals are healthier than others who do not. Gastrointestinal (GI) helminths are common in cats and serve as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. However, the prevalence of GI parasites in cats in Myanmar has never been reported. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GI parasites in cats in Myanmar and identify the potential risk factors associated with GI parasites. Materials and Methods: A total of 230 fecal samples were collected from seven veterinary clinics and two shelters within the Yangon region from January to May 2022. Sampled cats were classified according to age, gender, and deworming and rearing practices. Fecal samples were analyzed by fecal wet mount, ethyl acetate centrifugal sedimentation, and zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation techniques. Descriptive data were described, and Pearson's χ2 test was used to identify associated risk factors, such as age, gender, and deworming and rearing practices. Results: The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 79.56%, and 57.82% of cats were infected with a diagnostic stage of more than one parasite species. Seven GI parasites were detected, including Ancylostoma spp. (55.65%), Toxocara spp. (46.08%), Trichuris spp. (20.86%), Platynosomum spp. (11.73%), Dipylidium caninum (7.39%), Taenia spp. (4.34%), and Cystoisospora spp. (32.17%). Based on statistical analysis, deworming and rearing practices were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with GI parasitic infections. Conclusion: This study is the first to reveal the prevalence of GI parasites that could assist the need for effective control measures for zoonotic hookworm and roundworm infections in cats. Even with simple microscopic examination, the remarkably high prevalence of GI parasitic infections warrants regular deworming practice. Further molecular studies should also be performed to understand their genetic diversity.

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