Outcome of cats with diarrhea and Tritrichomonas foetus infection

Abstract

Objective-To determine the long-term outcome of cats infected with Tritrichomonas foetus and identify treatment and management strategies influencing resolution of infection or associated diarrhea. Design-Prospective study. Sample Population-26 cats with T foefus-associated diarrhea at least 22 months prior to the study. Procedure-A standardized survey regarding clinical course and management was administered to owners of cats with T foetus infection and associated diarrhea. Fecal samples were obtained from each cat; the presence of T foetus was assessed via microscopic examination of smears, culture in commercial media, and polymerase chain reaction amplification of T foetus rDNA involving species-specific primers. Results-Survey responses were obtained from owners of all 26 cats. Twenty-three cats had complete resolution of diarrhea a median of 9 months after onset. Analysis of fecal samples obtained from 22 cats revealed persistent T foetus infection in 12, with a median of 39 months after resolution of diarrhea. History of implementation of a dietary change, treatment with paromomycin, or higher numbers of cats in the household was associated with significantly longer duration of time to resolution of diarrhea. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested chronic T foetus-associated diarrhea in most cats is likely to resolve spontaneously within 2 years of onset. Chronic infection with T foetus (without clinical signs) after resolution of diarrhea appears to be common. Although often temporarily effective in decreasing seventy of diarrhea, attempts to treat cats with T foetus infection may result in prolongation of time to resolution of diarrhea.