Tritrichomonas foetus - a cause of diarrhoea in cats
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abstract
Tritrichomonas foetus has been recognised as the cause of venereal trichomoniasis in cattle, and recently as a causative agent of diarrhoea in cats. Cats may be infected faecal-orally or from abortion tissue from cattle. Pedigree cats have been over-represented in several studies and the mean age at diagnosis was less than one year. The most common clinical sign is diarrhoea, often containing fresh blood and mucus. Infected cats may also be asymptomatic and therefore can be a source of infection for other cats. T. foetus infection can be diagnosed by identifying the organism using a selective protozoal culture (InPouch TF) or the PCR method using species-specific primers. A much less sensitive test is the examination of a fresh faecal smear. Ronidazole is recommended for treating feline T. foetus infection at a dosage of 30 mg/kg once daily for 14 days. The side effects occurring at higher ronidazole dosages are ataxia, trembling and hyperaesthesia. The prognosis is guarded since elimination of T. foetus is difficult and a relapse is possible.
