felis - Articles
Diarrhea: parasites
Synonym(s): diarrhoea
Introduction
- Usually young cats but may affect any age.
- Signs: diarrhea, weight loss, +/- pot-bellied appearance, +/- polyphagia.
- Diagnosis: fecal analysis Fecal analysis: overview.
- Treatment: depends on parasite: helminths, Tritrichomonas foetus Tritrichomonas foetus infection, cryptosporidia Cryptosporidium spp and coccidia, Giardia spp Giardiasis.
Presenting signs
- Diarrhea.
- Weight loss.
- Failure to thrive.
- Lethargy/irritability.
- Possible pot-bellied appearance.
- Possible polyphagia.
- Tritrichomonas foetus - bloody mucoid diarrhea +/- fecal incontinence and swollen, reddened and painful anus.
Age predisposition
- <1 year old.
- Any age.
Special risks
- Cryptosporidia Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp Giardia spp (not very host specific).
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Mucosal damage - see specific parasites.
Specific
- Ascarids Ascaridosis.
- Coccidia Coccidiosis.
- Giardia spp Giardiasis.
- Tritrichomonas foetus Tritrichomonas foetus infection.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Gookin J L, Hanrahan K, Levy M G (2017) The conundrum of feline Trichomonosis. J Feline Med Surg 19 (3), 261-274 PubMed.
- Bouzid M, Halai K, Jeffreys D (2015) The prevalence of Giardia infection in dogs and cats, a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies from stool samples. Vet Parasitol 207 (3-4), 181-202 PubMed.
- Gruffydd-Jones T, Addie D, Belák S (2013) Giardiasis in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg 15 (7), 650-652 PubMed.
- Traversa D (2012) Pet roundworms and hookworms: a continuing need for global worming. Parasit Vectors 5, 91 PubMed.
- Scorza V, Tangtrongsup S (2010) Update on the diagnosis and management of Cryptosporidium spp infections in dogs and cats. Top Companion Anim Med 25 (3), 163-169 PubMed.
- Dryden M W, Payne P A (2005) Preventing parasites in cats. Vet Ther 6 (3), 260-267 PubMed.
- Kirkpatrick C E, Laczak J P (1985) Giardiasis in a cattery. JAVMA 187 (2), 161-162 PubMed.