title: A cross-sectional study of Tritrichomonas foetus infection among healthy cats at shows in Norway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus has been recognised as an important cause of chronic large-bowel diarrhoea in purebred cats in many countries, including Norway. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the proportion of animals with T. foetus infection among clinically healthy cats in Norway and to assess different risk factors for T. foetus infection, such as age, sex, former history of gastrointestinal symptoms and concurrent infections with Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample population consisted of 52 cats participating in three cat shows in Norway in 2009. Samples were examined for motile T. foetus by microscopy, after culturing and for T. foetus-DNA by species-specific nested PCR, as well as for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  By PCR, T. foetus-DNA was demonstrated in the faeces of 11 (21%) of the 52 cats tested. DNA-sequencing of five positive samples yielded 100% identity with previous isolates of T. foetus from cats. Only one sample was positive for T. foetus by microscopy. By IFAT, four samples were positive for Giardia cysts and one for Cryptosporidium oocysts, none of which was co-infected with T. foetus. No significant associations were found between the presence of T. foetus and the various risk factors examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T. foetus was found to be a common parasite in clinically healthy cats in Norway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, PO Box 8146 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway. kristoffer.tysnes@nvh.no
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tysnes
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gjerde
authors.forename: Ane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nødtvedt
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skancke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan