Efficacy of tinidazole for treatment of cats experimentally infected with Tritrichomonas foetus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of tinidazole for treatment of cats with experimentally induced Tritrichomonas foetus infection.


METHODS
8 specific-pathogen-free kittens.


METHODS
Tinidazole was tested for activity against a feline isolate of T foetus in vitro. Kittens were infected orogastrically with the same isolate and treated or not with tinidazole (30 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 14 days). Amoxicillin was administered 28 weeks after completion of tinidazole administration to induce diarrhea. Feces were repeatedly tested for T foetus by use of PCR assay and microbial culture for 33 weeks.


RESULTS
Tinidazole killed T foetus at concentrations >or= 10 microg/mL in vitro. In experimentally induced infection, tinidazole administered at 30 mg/kg decreased T foetus below the limit of molecular detection in 2 of 4 cats. Recrudescent shedding of T foetus, as elicited by amoxicillin-induced diarrhea, was diminished in cats that received prior treatment with tinidazole.


CONCLUSIONS
Although tinidazole decreased the detection of T foetus and treated cats were resistant to later efforts to incite the infection, inability of tinidazole to eradicate infection in many cats poses a serious impediment to the drug's effectiveness in practice.
Gookin
Jody L
JL
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
Stauffer
Stephen H
SH
Coccaro
Maria R
MR
Poore
Matthew F
MF
Levy
Michael G
MG
Papich
Mark G
MG
D000818:Animals; D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents; D014011:Tinidazole