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

Abstract

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.

Tritrichomonas foetus as a causative agent of tritrichomonosis in different animal hosts

“…The prevalence of the parasite in Japanese cats was 8.8% (8) among animals in three different hospitals. Studies carried out in China between 2009 and 2014 showed that T. foetus was more often found in young purebred cats (86%) (28).…”

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

“…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.…”

Detection of natural occurrence of Tritrichomonas foetus in cats in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

“…Co-infection with other intestinal parasites, such as Giardia species (Gookin et al 2004, Bissett et al 2008, Stockdale et al 2009, Kingsbury et al 2010, Köster et al 2015, Cryptosporidim species (Stockdale et al 2009), coccidia like Isospora species (Stockdale et al 2009), Sarcocystes species (Kingsbury et al 2010), and Toxoplasma gondii (Miró et al 2011), has been already reported. The most common co-infections are Giardia species and coccidia (Tolbert & Gookin, 2009).…”