Coccidiosis of cats
The coccidiosis of cats is a parasitic disease in cats caused by Isospora felis or Isospora rivolta caused and especially in young animals diarrhea caused. Since coccidia are strictly host-specific, transmission to other animal species or humans is not possible.
Infection occurs through the uptake of sporulated oocysts from the environment through smear infection . Infection through ingestion of stack hosts such as rodents , in which the pathogen forms a dormant state in internal organs (dormozoites), is also possible. After ingestion, the single cells multiply in the intestinal mucosa . After a prepatency of six to ten days, the first unsporulated oocysts appear in the feces, which sporulate in the outside world within a few days and are thus contagious. These oocysts remain infectious for several months. Elimination after infection takes one to four weeks. Co-infections with roundworms or bacteria are common.
Coccidia infestation causes diarrhea in kittens. In severe cases, it can be bloody and even fatal. In older animals, silent infections often occur, in which the animals themselves do not show any symptoms, but act as excretors . The diagnosis is made by microscopic detection of the oocysts in the feces using a flotation method. For treatment may Toltrazuril or clazuril be used. There are no approved preparations for cats in Germany for either active ingredient.
Cleaning and disinfection measures with steam jets and / or agents that act as coccidia are unavoidable, especially in larger collections of cats such as animal shelters or breeders. The effectiveness of coccidia is shown in the disinfectant list of the German Veterinary Medicine Society (DVG). Feces should be collected as soon as possible and safely disposed of. Furnishings such as scratching posts must also be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
literature
- Michael Cieslicki and Erdmute Lipper: On the effectiveness and tolerability of Clazuril (Appertex ® ) in coccidiosis in dogs and cats. In: Kleintierpraxis 38 (1993), pp. 725-728.
- ESCCAP: Control of intestinal protozoa in dogs and cats. In: Kleintierpraxis 58 (2013), pp. 416–430.