title: Tritrichomonas foetus infection in purebred cats in Germany: prevalence of clinical signs and the role of co-infection with other enteroparasites.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection and associated clinical signs in purebred cats in Germany, to investigate the role of co-infection, and identify determinants of infection. Faecal specimens accompanied by epidemiological questionnaires were scored and collected from 230 purebred cats. Faeces were examined for trichomonads and other enteroparasites. The prevalence of T foetus was 15.7% among cats and 18.5% among catteries. An abnormal faecal score and history of diarrhoea were observed in 64% and 61% of T foetus-positive cats, respectively, and correlated significantly with infection. Co-infection, observed in 36% of T foetus-infected cats, was not associated with diarrhoea. Norwegian Forest cats were infected significantly more often than other breeds. No association was found with any environmental factors. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of symptomatic T foetus infections in purebred cats in Germany. Co-infection with other enteroparasites did not worsen clinical signs of trichomonosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany. K.Kuehner@medizinische-kleintierklinik.de
authors.forename: Kirsten A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kuehner
authors.forename: Stanley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kass
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter-Louis
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Grahn
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barutzki
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus