Parasitic Diseases of Cats

Parasitic Diseases of Cats

Following are the important diseases caused by parasites in cats.

1-Amebiasis

Amebiasis is an acute or chronic colitis, characterized by persistent diarrhea or dysentery, that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. It is common in people and nonhuman primates, sometimes seen in dogs and cats, and rare in other mammals.

Etiology

Amebiasis, or amoebiasis is an infection caused by a few different kinds of the parasitic amoeba, including entamoebahistolytica, acanthamoebacastellani and acanthamoebaculbertsoni.  This gastrointestinal infection can affect both humans and animals, including dogs, cats and primates.  Human beings, dogs and cats can be infected by entamoebahistolytica. Generally, cats become infected with this form of meiosis through contact with infected human feces.
Sign and symptoms

 Some amebiasis infections, however, may lead to ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the intestinal tract) which can lead to fatal dysentery.  Dysentery is a disease caused by lower intestinal inflammation and characterized by severe diarrhea and bloody feces.  Organ failure can also result, leading to death.In cats entamoebahistolyticaamebiasis leads to colitis (intestinal inflammation).  There are no known cases of cats being infected with ancanthamoeba.

Clinical Findings:

It lives in the lumen of the large intestine and cecum and may produce no obvious clinical signs or invade the intestinal mucosa and produce mild to severe, ulcerative, hemorrhagic colitis. In acute disease, fulminating dysentery may develop, which may be fatal, progress to chronicity, or resolve spontaneously. Chronic cases may show weight loss, anorexia, tenesmus, and chronic diarrhea or dysentery, which may be continuous or intermittent. In addition to the colon and cecum, amebae may invade perianal skin, genitalia, liver, brain, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. Signs may resemble those of other colonic diseases (eg, trichuriasis, balantidiasis).

Diagnosis:

Definitive diagnosis depends on finding E histolyticatrophozoites or cysts in feces. Trophozoites are best seen in direct saline smears or in stained sections of affected colonic tissue. These parasites are difficult to find because many animals with extraintestinalamebiasis have no concurrent intestinal infection. Colonoscopy with scraping or biopsy of ulcerations is more effective than fecal examination in diagnosing amebic colitis. In intestinal infections, repeated examinations may be necessary because parasites may be passed periodically in the feces.

Treatment:
Colitis in pets caused by the amoeba entamoebahistolytica can be treated with the nitroimidazole antibiotic medication metronidazole.  Amebiasis that affects the brain of pets, however, in untreatable and inevitably fatal.

2- Babesiosis

Babesiosis in domestic cats has been reported sporadically from various countries including France, Germany, Thailand, India, and Zimbabwe. However, significant clinical disease is seen only in South Africa where feline babesiosis is reported regularly from coastal regions.

Etiology

Several Babesia spp. are known to infect wild felids and domestic cats. Babesiaherpailuri and B. pantherae are large intraerythrocyticpiroplasms of wild felids in Africa that have been transmitted experimentally to the domestic cat. The most common Babesia species to affect domestic cats, B. felis, is a highly pathogenic, small piroplasm found mainly in the coastal areas of southern Africa and the Sudan.3,4 B. felis usually occurs in cats less than three years of age and does not appear to have a predilection related to sex or breed.

Clinical signs

Feline babesiosis often presents as a chronic, low-grade disease. The most common clinical signs of symptomatic feline babesiosis are anorexia, lethargy, weakness, and a rough haircoat. Unlike dogs with babesiosis, fever and icterus are uncommon in cats.

Diagnosis

A tentative diagnosis of feline babesiosis may be made by identifying intracellular piroplasms within erythrocytes on a Romanowsky or Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smear .Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Babesia spp. DNA is a useful technique to document infection and the test may be performed on a blood sample.

Treatment

Primaquine phosphate, administered orally or as an intramuscular injection at 0.5mg/kg has been effective but frequently caused vomiting when administered orally and was lethal at dosages exceeding 1mg/kg.11 Primaquine is capable of clearing the parasitemia but does not eliminate B. felisinfections.Rifampicin and a sulfadiazine-trimethoprim combination appear to have an anti-parasitic effect but are inferior to primaquine administration.

3-Leishmaniasis

Brought on by the protozoan parasite Leishmania, leishmaniasis causes two types of disease in cats: a cutaneous (skin) reaction and a visceral (abdominal organ) reaction, which is also known as black fever, the most severe form of leishmaniasis.The infection is acquired when sandflies transmit the flagellated parasites into the skin of a host. The main organ systems affected are the skin, kidneys, spleen, liver, eyes, and joints.

Etiology

Leishmaniasis results from infection by various species of Leishmania, a proto-zoan parasite of the family Trypanosomatidae (order Kinetoplastida). Approximately 30 species have been described, and at least 20 of these organisms are pathogenic for mammals. The genus Leishmania contains two subgenera, Leishmania and Viannia, which are differentiated by where they multiply in the digestive tract of the insect vector.

Clinical Signs

Two forms of leishmaniasis, cutaneous and visceral, are seen in humans. Some texts also distinguish a muco-cutaneous form, while others consider it to be a subset of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The form of the disease and the usual clinical signs vary with the species of Leishmania. Some infections remain asymptomatic.

Diagnostic Tests

Cutaneous leishmaniasis can be diagnosed by direct observation of the parasites in skin scrapings, impression smears or skin biopsies stained with Giemsa, Leishman’s, Wright’s or other stains.Polymerase chain reaction assays(PCR) are often used for diagnosis in areas where they are available

Treatment

Visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis can usually be cured in immunocompetent individuals. Pentavalentantimonials can be used where the parasites are sensitive to these drugs, but resistance is a major problem in some areas. Other drugs such as allupurinol, amphotericin B or liposomal amphotericin B, and miltefosine may also be used.

Prevention

Preventative measures against sandflies include using insect repellents such as DEET, covering exposed skin, and staying on higher floors of buildings in the evening or at night, as these insects are poor fliers. Fans can also be helpful, and insecticidal sprays can be used to kill the insects inside houses. Insecticide-treated bed nets de-crease bites from these insects at night.

4-Giardiasis

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan (single celled organism) parasite which is found in the small intestine of vertebrates including mammals. Infection with Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis.

Etiology

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan (single celled organism) parasite which is found in the small intestine of vertebrates including mammals. Infection with Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis.

. Clinical signs

The parasite has a one to two week incubation period. Most cats are asymptomatic, although they may keep passing on cysts for months or years. Clinical signs are most likely to be seen in younger animals from multi-cat households/environments.

If large numbers of trophozoites develop the cat will develop symptoms which include;

Foul smelling stools, often yellowish, foamy/frothy.

Vomiting

Weight loss

Flatulence

Abdominal distension

Diagnosis

Fecal flotation (zinc sulfate solution) may be used to detect cysts. Cysts may not be present in the stool of a cat with diarrhoea. Fecal smears may detect the  activetrophozoites.

Treatment

Metronidazole (trade name Flagyl) is an antibiotic used to treat giardiasis.Furazolidone is another antibiotic which is used to treat protozoal infections too.Fenbendazole which is a drug used to control certain worms  is another drug which may be prescribed to treat giardiasis.

Prevention

Do not allow your cat into infected areas. If it has been exposed, clean its feet.
If your cat has diarrhea, clean its anal area with water and a cat-safe shampoo. Wear goggles and a mouth covering to prevent infected water from entering your eyes, nose or mouth.
Steam-clean common pet areas and let the area dry. Keep your cat healthy by feeding it a high-quality cat food and scheduling regular veterinary visit

5-Scabies

Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptesscabiei. Mites are small eight-legged parasites Scabies infestation occurs worldwide and is very common. It has been estimated that worldwide, about 300 million cases occur each year.

Etiology

Feline scabies is an uncommon skin ailment caused by the head mite Notoedrescati.

 Clinical signs

·         Hair Loss

·         Itching

·         Skin Changes

·         Enlarged Lymph Nodes

·         Crusts

Diagnosis

Magnified view of a burrowing trail of the scabies mite. The scaly patch on the left was caused by the scratching and marks the mite's entry point into the skin. The mite has burrowed to the top-right, where it can be seen as a dark spot at the end.Scabies may be diagnosed clinically in geographical areas where it is common when diffuse itching presents along with either lesions in two typical spots or there is itchiness of another household member. The classical sign of scabies is the burrows made by the mites within the skin. To detect the burrow the suspected area is rubbed with ink from a fountain pen or a topical tetracycline solution, which glows under a special light.

Treatment of scabies

Apply a mite-killer like permethrin (Elimite). These creams are applied from the neck down, left on overnight, then washed off. Sulfur in petrolatum applied as a cream or ointment is one of the earliest known treatments for scabies. It has not been approved by the FDA for this use,

Metabolic Diseases of cat

Metabolic diseases are those that occur in the organs or affect body function. The following is a list of cat diseases and symptoms that affect a feline's metabolic system.

Disease	Symptoms	Treatment	Prognosis
Diabetes Mellitus	Increase in urination and thirst; rapid weight loss; change in gait	Insulin therapy and special diet	Normal life span if treated; animal will die if not treated.
Kidney Disease	Increased thirst; rapid weight loss; loss of appetite	Various medications, fluids and a specific diet.	Normal life span if treated;life threatening if not treated because the kidneys will completely shut down.
Urinary Tract Disease .	Painful and frequent urination;urinating outside of litter box	Various medications	Normal life span if treated;potentially life-threatening if not treated
Impetigo	Scabs and blisters that form on the stomach; usually seen in kittens	Keep the litter pan clean and dry. Treat the scabs and blisters with surgical soap and hydrogen peroxide. Occasionally, antibiotics are prescribed.	Normal life span if treated
Hypoglycemia	Low energy and listless; occasional seizures or falling over and appearing comatose; most often seen in kittens	Feed Karo syrup or honey; improved diet required	Normal life span if treated; animals will respond somewhat quickly to the administration of sugar.
Peridontal Disease	Bad breath, bleeding gums, pawing at the mouth, drooling and loss of appetite	Animals will be sedated prior to teeth cleaning, root planing, surgery or tooth removal. Antibiotics and home brushing programs may be prescribed.	Normal life span with proper tooth care

Fungal Diseases in Cats

Fungi are a large family that includes mushrooms. They live in soil and organic material. Many types of fungi spread via airborne spores. Fungus spores, which resist heat and can live for long periods without water, gain entrance to the body through the respiratory tract or a break in the skin.Fungal diseases can be divided into two categories. The first are fungi that affect only the skin or mucous membranes, such as ringworm and thrush. In the second category, the fungus is widespread and involves the liver, lungs, brain, and other organs, in which case the disease is systemic.

Cryptococcosis

This disease, caused by the yeastlike fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, is the most common systemic fungal infection of cats. It tends to occur in young adult animals.

Etiology

It is acquired by inhaling spores found in soil heavily contaminated by bird droppings, especially those of pigeons. The likelihood of infection is increased if the cat has an immune deficiency. However, not all cats who develop cryptococcosis are immune depressed.

Clinical sign

Signs include sneezing, snuffling, a mucoid to bloody discharge from one or both nostrils, coughing, and obstructed breathing. Flesh-colored polyplike growths may protrude from the nose. The infection may extend to the brain and cause fatal meningitis with neurological signs such as circling and seizures. Ocular damage, including blindness, may also be noted.Neurologic cryptococcosis can show a variety of signs, depending on where the infection is located. These include blindness, seizures, and vestibular signs, such as incoordination or a head tilt.

Diagnosis

 The diagnosis can be made by fungus culture or tissue biopsy. Often, the organisms can be identified in a smear from the nasal discharge. A cryptococcus latex agglutination test is available.

Treatment:

Oral antifungal drugs of the imidazole group, such as ketoconazole, are effective when started early in the course of the disease. Fluconazole and itraconazole are newer drugs that are far better tolerated by cats. These drugs are slow acting. Treatment is prolonged. If those drugs are not successful, amphotercin B or flucytosine can be tried, but they are medications of last resort because they have many serious side effects.