AETIOPATHOLOGY AND CLINICO-THERAPEUTIC STUDIES ON ENTERIC PROTOZOAN INFECTIONS IN DOMESTIC CATS
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Date
2023-01-03
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Enteric protozoal infections in cats have worldwide distribution. The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of enteric protozoans in domestic cats in Thrissur and their effective treatment. A total of 155 faecal samples, comprising of 71 diarrhoeic faeces and 84 non diarrhoeic faeces were collected from cats presented to TVCC, Mannuthy and UVH, Kokkalai during the period from January, 2021 to March, 2022. All the samples were subjected to preliminary examination by wet mount and floatation using Sheather’s sugar solution. Faecal smears were subjected to staining using modified ZN technique for identification of Cryptosporidium spp. The overall occurrence of enteric parasites in cats was found to be 34.84 per cent (54 out of 155), of which enteric protozoa was identified in 51.85 (28 out of 54) per cent of samples. Cystoisospora spp. was the only enteric protozoa identified in cats in the present study. The overall occurrence of Cystoisospora spp. was found to be 18.06 per cent, in which mixed infection of Cystoisospora spp. with Toxocara spp. and Ancylostoma spp. was noticed in 1.94 per cent and 0.64 per cent of cats respectively. Toxocara spp. and Cystoisospora spp. were the most commonly found co-infections. Based on micrometry species of cystoisospora was identified as C. felis. Extracted DNA from faecal samples were subjected to PCR for T. gondii and nested PCR for Cryptosporidium spp. None of the sample revealed presence of the organisms. On comparing the selected haematological parameters of Cystoisospora spp. infected cats with normal healthy cats, there was no significant difference noticed between the infected group and the control group. Cats positive for cystoisospora infection were successfully treated with sulpha trimethoprim @ 25 mg/kg intramuscularly once daily for five days. Risk factors associated with cystoisosporosis were identified as age, number of cats in the household and source of cats. The results of present study signify the prevalence of enteric protozoan such as Cystoisospora felis infection in cats and revealed that the cats can excrete the oocyst of C. felis without showing apparent clinical signs of infection thus contaminate the environment. Identification of risk factors will help to adopt proper intervention strategies to minimise the disease occurrence in cats.