Case study: Report of the first clinical case of intestinal trichomoniasis caused by Tritrichomonas foetus in a cat with chronic diarrhoea in Brazil
Robert Lo, Ph.D, D.V.M
A seven-month-old, entire male domestic shorthair kitten was presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine – University of São Paulo, Brazil. The cat showed a six-month history of persistent large intestinal diarrhoea, faecal incontinence, prostration, apathy and weight loss. P Protozoan parasites were observed under microscope using fresh fecal sample obtained via colon flush. Infection of Tritrichomonas foetus was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. After treatment with ronidazole (30 mg/kg, PO q24h for 14 days), the cat showed resolution of clinical signs. This is the first clinical case of T. foetus infection in a chronic diarrheic cat in Brazil and South America.
Original paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392982/
Tritrichomonas foetus in cat feces. a Numerous pyriform trophozoites. b The three free anterior flagella (large arrow) and the undulating membrane (small arrows) can be visualised in some trophozoites. Fresh preparation in saline 0.85%.
