Assessment of reproductive tract disease in cats at risk for Tritrichomonas foetus infection

Gray, Sara G.; Hunter, Stuart; Stone, Maria R.; Gookin, Jody L.

doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.1.76

Cited by 31 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Tritrichomonas foetus, a trichomonad causing similar pathology, is a venereal pathogen of cattle and can result in considerable reproductive and economic losses in infected herds. Recently, a trichomonad highly similar to bovine venereal T. foetus but having a unique tropism for the intestinal tract was recognized as a significant cause of diarrhea in domestic cats (3)(4)(5)(6). This same organism is also documented in the colon of pigs (7,8).…”

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Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

et al. 2014

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bTrichomonads are obligate protozoan parasites most renowned as venereal pathogens of the reproductive tract of humans and cattle. Recently, a trichomonad highly similar to bovine venereal Tritrichomonas foetus but having a unique tropism for the intestinal tract was recognized as a significant cause of colitis in domestic cats. Despite a high prevalence, worldwide distribution, and lack of consistently effective drugs for treatment of the infection, the cellular mechanisms of T. foetus pathogenicity in the intestinal tract have not been examined. The aims of this study were to determine the pathogenic effect of feline T. foetus on porcine intestinal epithelial cells, the dependence of T. foetus pathogenicity on adhesion of T. foetus to the intestinal epithelium, and the identity of mediators responsible for these effects. Using an in vitro coculture approach to model feline T. foetus infection of the intestinal epithelium, these studies demonstrate that T. foetus promotes a direct contact-dependent activation of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis signaling and progressive monolayer destruction. Moreover, these pathological effects were demonstrated to be largely dependent on T. foetus cell-associated cysteine protease activity. Finally, T. foetus cysteine proteases were identified as enabling cytopathic effects by promoting adhesion of T. foetus to the intestinal epithelium. The present studies are the first to examine the cellular mechanisms of pathogenicity of T. foetus toward the intestinal epithelium and support further investigation of the cysteine proteases as virulence factors in vivo and as potential therapeutic targets for ameliorating the pathological effects of intestinal trichomonosis.

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Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

et al. 2014

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“…11 A few other factors have been analysed for their association with a Tritrichomonas species-positive status, including sex (with a male kitten having a great risk factor; P <0.01), sharing a house with more than five cats (OR 4.6; P <0.01) and food (OR 5.4 for feeding a raw food diet; P <0.01). 7,12 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trichomonosis in cats with diarrhoea in Hong Kong, China, between 2009 and 2014

Köster

Chow²,

Yao

2015

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports

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Case series summaryInfection of the domestic cat by Tritrichomonas blagburni, previously referred to as T foetus, may lead to a disease called feline trichomonosis, which manifests clinically as large bowel diarrhoea. The disease has a wide geographical distribution, including numerous countries in Europe, North America and Australia/Oceania. Nevertheless, it has occasionally been reported in Asia, South Korea and Japan. A retrospective study was carried out to include all domestic cats with diarrhoea, presented to two veterinary clinics in Hong Kong, China, between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2014. A total of 29 cats with diarrhoea were diagnosed with Tritrichomonas species infection by means of quantitative PCR and direct microscopy. Tritrichomonas species was more frequently found in young (median age 10 months), male (66%) and purebred cats (86%). Giardia species was found in 31% of Tritrichomonas species-positive cats. The recommended dose of ronidazole (30 mg/kg q24h for 14 days) resolved clinical signs in 83% of diagnosed cats.Relevance and novel informationThis case series describes Tritrichomonas species as a cause for feline chronic diarrhoea in cats in China. The high rate of failure (17%) in those cats receiving a standard regimen of ronidazole might be due to owner or patient compliance rather than protozoal resistance to the drug.

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“…Male cats are reported to be more likely to have positive PCR test results for T. foetus . By dividing these groupings further into sex and neuter status, and in consideration of other factors including age and breed, we did not observe a significant association between sex and probability of a positive PCR test result for T. foetus infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Association of fecal sample collection technique and treatment history withTritrichomonas foetuspolymerase chain reaction test results in 1717 cats

Hedgespeth

Stauffer

Robertson

et al. 2020

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background Fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Tritrichomonas foetus is considered the most sensitive means for diagnosis of infection but results could be influenced by fecal collection technique and prior use of antimicrobial drugs. Objectives To establish any association between fecal collection technique or treatment history and results of fecal PCR testing for T. foetus. Animals Fecal samples from 1717 cats submitted by veterinarians between January 2012 and December 2017. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis. T. foetus PCR test results from 1808 fecal samples submitted for diagnostic testing were examined for their association with method of fecal collection and prior antimicrobial treatments. Data were collected from sample submission form. Results Positive T. foetus PCR test results were obtained for 274 (16%) cats. Fecal samples collected via fecal loop had increased probability of positive PCR test results (odds ratio [OR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31‐3.17, P = .002) compared to samples collected by colonic flush. There was no association between PCR test results and treatment history, treatment type, or prior treatment with ronidazole. After an initial positive PCR test, 4/19 (21%; 95% CI 2.7%‐39.4%) cats treated with ronidazole had a second positive test result. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Results of this study support that fecal samples collected by loop might be better for PCR diagnosis of T. foetus infection. Lack of association of ronidazole with PCR test results and a 21% all‐potential‐causes failure rate of ronidazole in cats with preconfirmed infection are important limitations to use of this drug.

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Assessment of reproductive tract disease in cats at risk for Tritrichomonas foetus infection

Abstract: No evidence of reproductive tract colonization by T foetus was detected in this study. Accordingly, it is unlikely that reproductive tract infection with T foetus plays an important role in overall disease transmission.

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Trichomonosis in cats with diarrhoea in Hong Kong, China, between 2009 and 2014

Association of fecal sample collection technique and treatment history withTritrichomonas foetuspolymerase chain reaction test results in 1717 cats

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