Enteropathogen co-infection in UK cats with diarrhoea

Abstract

BackgroundIndividual enteropathogen infections in healthy and clinically ill cats are well described, but prevalence and patterns of enteropathogen co-infection have only been reported on a limited basis. We studied enteropathogen co-infection in diarrhoeic UK cats using results of a real time PCR assay for 8 enteropathogenic species; feline coronavirus (Co), feline panleukopenia virus (Pa), Clostridium perfringens (Cl), Salmonella enterica (Sa), Giardia spp. (Gi), Tritrichomonas foetus (Tr), Cryptosporidium spp. (Cr), and Toxoplasma gondii (To). Age, gender, breed and history were recorded. PCR panels from 1088 diarrhoeic cats were available for analysis.ResultsOverall enteropathogen prevalence was 56.9% (Co), 22.1% (Pa), 56.6% (Cl), 0.8% (Sa), 20.6% (Gi), 18.8% (Tr), 24.4% (Cr) and 1.0% (To). Prevalence of Co, Gi and Tr was higher in pedigree cats compared to non-pedigree cats (DSH) and prevalence decreased with increasing age for Co, Pa, Gi, Cr and Tr. Co-infection was common: ≥2 enteropathogens were detected in 62.5% of cats, and 13.3% of cats had ≥4 enteropathogens. Mean ( truex¯) enteropathogen co-infection 2.01 (±1.3 SD), was significantly higher in pedigree cats ( truex¯ =2.51) compared to DSH ( truex¯ =1.68) and decreased with age ( truex¯ =2.64 <6 months, truex¯ =1.68 for >1 yr). More cats were negative for all 8 enteropathogens tested (12.7%) than expected. When exact combinations of co-infection were examined, Tr tended to be found in combinations with Co, Cl, and Gi.ConclusionsMultiple infections should be considered the most likely result of faecal testing in cats, and case management needs to take this into account. In contrast, the relatively high percentage of cats negative for all 8 enteropathogens tested could indicate an innate resistance to infection. Alternatively it could indicate a lack of exposure to these 8 enteropathogens or the presence of other enteropathogens not assessed by this assay.

Co-infection by Tritrichomonas foetus and Pentatrichomonas hominis in asymptomatic cats

“…Currently, there is a general tendency to opt for direct molecular analysis of feces for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis (Gookin et al 2002, Paris et al 2014). According to these authors it is not possible to differentiate T. foetus from other protozoa with similar appearance and size as Giardia spp.…”

Fulminant Tritrichomonas foetus ‘feline genotype’ infection in a 3-month old kitten associated with viral co-infection

“…FPV infects rapidly dividing cells, including lymphoid tissue and proliferating cells of the bone marrow resulting in cell lysis and functional immunosuppression which predisposes these animals to other infectious agents (Truyen et al, 2009). FCoV causes a mild diarrhoea and coinfects cats with T. foetus (Paris et al, 2014;Vogel et al, 2010). FCoV may have contributed to the increased T. foetus burden, however, its role was likely minor in the face of severe feline parvoviral enteritis.…”

“…and T. foetus and found diarrheal duration and severity was greater in cats with co-infection of Cryptosporidium sp. Detection of T. foetus was also noted more commonly co-associated with feline coronavirus and C. perfringens than as a singular pathogen in a retrospective study of 1088 cats within the United Kingdom (Paris et al, 2014).…”

“…Tritrichomonas foetus 'feline genotype' causes waxing and waning large bowel diarrhoea, predominantly in multi-cat households (Gookin et al, 2017;Yao and Koster, 2015). Several studies have described coinfection with T. foetus and various pathogens, including Giardia, Toxocara, Eucoleus, Cryptosporidium, Cystoisospora, feline enteric coronavirus (FCoV) and Clostridium perfringens (Bell et al, 2010;Gookin et al, 2001Gookin et al, , 2004Kuehner et al, 2011;Paris et al, 2014;Profizi et al, 2013). So far, only Cryptosporidium sp.…”

Tritrichomonas foetus and Mycoplasma felis coinfection in the upper respiratory tract of a cat with chronic purulent nasal discharge

“…The organism replicates by binary fission and exhibits only a trophozoite stage. The cat genotype of T foetus is an obligate parasite of the feline gastrointestinal tract, which infects the mucosal surface of the colon and the distal small intestine, causing chronic large bowel diarrhea (feline trichomoniasis), and is frequently associated with enteropathogen coinfections …”