Lamoille Valley
Veterinary Services
www.LVVSonline.com
278 Vermont 15 East
Post Office Box 41
Hyde Park Vermont 05655
802.888.7911 Fax: 802.888.3454
askLVVS@aol.com
Trichomonosis in cats
According to Dr S. Marks of UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine:
“Tritrichomonas foetus, the primary causative agent of bovine
trichomoniasis, has recently been recognized as a protozoal [intestinal]
pathogen in cats.” One study showed a high prevalence in cat show and
cattery animals. Often misdiagnosed as Giardia, T. foetus infected cats
treated with an appropriate Giardia therapy do not respond.
Clinical signs of Tritrichomonas foetus include chronic or re-occurring
diarrhea. Often “the anus is … red, swollen, and painful, and fecal
incontinence is not uncommon. Most cats are usually bright, alert, and
responsive, and in good body condition with a normal appetite.” T. foetus
can be found in cats not showing clinical signs.
InPouchTF (Biomed Diagnostics, White City, Oregon) is a test developed to
identify Tritrichomonas foetus in cows, but can be used in a veterinary
hospital setting to test cats for the protozoa. This is the test we used to
confirm Pharaoh’s diagnosis. InPouch TF has shown a 90% rate of
sensitivity to the protozoa, a six-fold increase over trying to diagnosis this
protozoa via a microscopic examination of fecal material.
Tritrichomonas foetus is not considered to be zoonotic (transmissible to
people) but as it can affect cows and pigs, anyone with these animals and
a cat with chronic diarrhea has cause for concern.
At the time Dr. Marks wrote his presentation, no treatment options were
available. By June of this summer (2005), after many drug trials had been
unsuccessful, Ronidazole was showing promise in research trials.
Once diagnosed with Tritrichomonas foetus, Ronidazole is the drug
currently being tested for use in cats. This is an ‘off-label’ use of the drug
and is not guaranteed to be a treatment. Dosing being used by
researchers is 30-50mg/kg orally once every 12 hours for 14 days.
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However, research has not yet decided if this is the optimal dose.
Ronidazole is produced by SIGMA Pharmaceuticals. It must be kept
frozen. Currently it is a relatively reasonably priced drug – this may change
in the future.
It is important to know that recovered cats can remain infected. Periods of
stress do seem to play a strong role in recurrence of clinical signs.
The most sensitive test for Tritrichomonas foetus is a PCR of DNA
extracted from feces with a 97%+ sensitivity to the protozoa. This test is
only performed at the veterinary laboratory at North Carolina State
University. A lima bean sized amount of feces must be placed in 5-10ml of
rubbing alcohol for proper stabilization of the sample in preparation for
testing.
Sources
“Update of Feline Gastrointestinal Neoplasia,” S. L. Marks, BVSc., PhD,
Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology), Diplomate ACVN, lecture
notes, North American Veterinary Conference Postgraduate Institute 2005
– Advances in Feline Medicine, Orlando FL.
Personal notes, P. J. Yankauskas, VMD, Hyde Park VT
Personal consultation, P. J. Yankauskas, VMD, Hyde Park VT