The source of isosporosis in the wild, cats are rodents, although many vertebrates can be intermediate hosts. When eating raw meat from infected animals, cats and dogs can also become infected with isosporiasis. The active period of excretion of oocysts with feces after primary infection is on average 5-10 days. If reinfection has occurred (the cat has repeatedly eaten its own oocysts), then the isospores are distributed over the organs and tissues of the animal, chronic, often asymptomatic carriage.

Disease severity depends on the number of isospores that have entered the body of the animal. Sometimes owners may not even know that their pet is sick. But in stressful situations for the body, isosporosis begins to progress and manifest itself with such clinical signs as frequent defecation with unformed feces with a large amount of mucus and streaks of blood, loss of appetite, anorexia. Since the favorite place of isospores in the body of dogs and cats is the intestinal epithelium, other enterocolitis symptoms complicated by the reproduction of secondary bacterial microflora.

Diagnosis of cystoisosporosis

Diagnosis of cystoisosporosis is carried out in a veterinary laboratory after contacting a veterinarian! For research, fresh feces are taken, collected in the cleanest conditions and in a special container that can be purchased at human pharmacies. If the cat goes to the tray, then the owners must clean the biomaterial from the filler, otherwise the laboratory may refuse to study. After the course of treatment, a fecal analysis is also taken (sometimes several samples are required - up to 3 negative results) to confirm the effectiveness of the prescribed course.

Treatment of cystoisosporosis

Treatment cystoisosporosis, taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibacterial drugs of the sulfanilamide and nitrofuran series, as well as eimeriostatics, should be comprehensive and lengthy. In addition to the above drugs, the combined use of gastroprotectors to protect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, broad-spectrum antibiotics and metronidazole to suppress secondary bacterial microflora, antispasmodic and adsorbent drugs as symptomatic therapy and probiotic preparations to normalize the intestinal microflora is recommended. With anorexia and dehydration, subcutaneous or intravenous infusions of solutions and vitamins are recommended.

If your animal shows signs of cystoisosporosis, we are always glad to see you at the VetState veterinary clinic 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 10.00 to 21.00
For more information, you can contact the multi-line phone

For the owner, the main thing is to help the pet get better as soon as possible. But when a doctor talks about the contagious nature of the disease, it is difficult for the average person to understand the difference between viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Conditionally contagious diseases are divided into parasitic (invasive) and infectious. Protozoa are single-celled parasites.

Cat diseases caused by protozoa are called protozooses. Most of them are dangerous to humans.

Toxoplasmosis is registered on all continents. Characterized by the presence of natural foci and periodic outbreaks of the disease. In Russia, it is found in St. Petersburg, in the Leningrad region.

From a sick animal, Toxoplasma is excreted everywhere:

• co ;
• discharge from the eyes, nose, genitals;
• with urine and faeces.

Symptoms of the acute form of toxoplasmosis appear 2-3 days after infection:

• In females - abortion in the first half of pregnancy, the birth of a non-viable offspring, kittens with congenital deformities (hydrocephalus, underdevelopment of the limbs).
• Raising the body to 41 ° C, severe trembling and depression (the cat does not eat or drink).
• and purulent rhinitis.
• Persistent diarrhea with the release of blood and mucus, vomiting, abdominal pain on palpation.
• Mucous membranes are pale or cyanotic.
• Tachycardia and rapid breathing.
• Convulsions, paralysis.

The acute form of the disease can lead to death. The chronic course is characterized by the exhaustion of the animal, diarrhea, unstable appetite and fever. In cats, toxoplasmosis can even be hidden without causing any symptoms.

Infected animals shed immature oocysts in the faeces. They must "ripen" in the external environment for 3-4 days, after which they become infectious. An intermediate host is not required. Oocysts remain dangerous up to 2 years, are resistant to disinfectants, so the disease is widespread.

Symptoms of isosporiasis appear a week after infection:

• with the release of mucus and blood, a characteristic feature is the orange or red color of the feces.
• The abdomen is painful and tense.
• Decreased or complete lack of appetite.
• Depression, lethargy.
• Polyuria, urine dark, with an unpleasant odor.
• Severe dehydration and exhaustion.
• Temperature increase (not always).

Without laboratory tests, the doctor may confuse the acute form of isosporosis with or.

Eimeriosis (coccidiosis)

Coccidia of the genus Eimeria live inside the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Only kittens are affected, and adult animals may be asymptomatic carriers. Infection occurs with water or feed. The disease is more common in the south of Russia.

Symptoms usually appear 2 weeks after infection and are associated with mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa and layering of secondary microflora. Digestion is disturbed, the absorption of nutrients becomes impossible, which leads to constant starvation.

Signs of coccidiosis are the same as those of isosporiasis, but young animals are sick, lagging behind in growth, losing weight.

Giardiasis

The disease is caused by Giardia canis. Infection occurs with water and food. Giardia do not live inside cells, attaching to the intestinal villi from the outside.

Examination of faeces for the presence of oocysts

A coprological study (according to the method of Fulleborn or Darling) is carried out three times, every 2-3 days, since oocysts are not regularly or in insufficient quantities.

Linked immunosorbent assay

For the diagnosis of giardiasis, there is a rapid test (the answer will be in 5-10 minutes), feces are examined by ELISA.

polymerase chain reaction

Treatment of protozoosis

In addition to fighting the causative agent of the disease (protozoa), it is necessary to eliminate dehydration and nutritional deficiencies in the body.

• Apply subcutaneous or intravenous injections of solutions: Ringer, 5% glucose, Refortan, Reamberin.
• With severe depletion, solutions for parenteral nutrition containing amino acids are shown - Infezol, Dufalight. Apply multivitamins (Hemobalance).
• Inside, astringents and enveloping agents are prescribed - a decoction of flax seed, rice decoction.
• With severe damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, sorbents are used - Phosphalugel, Enterosgel, Polypefan.
• If the doctor suspects that the pathogenic microflora, provoked by damage to the intestinal mucosa, has joined the protozoosis, an antibiotic or metronidazole (Trichopolum) is prescribed.

Diet

• If the cat has previously eaten an industrial diet, use special diets to maintain the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: i / d; Gastrointestinal and others.
• If you are used to homemade food, use liquid slimy rice porridge with boiled beef, fermented milk products.

Feed should be easily digestible and not irritate the digestive tract.

Prevention of protozoosis

1. Remove faeces in a timely manner, disinfect animal care items, and maintain cleanliness in the premises.
2. Isolation from stray dogs and cats.
3. Do not feed raw meat and offal.
4. Avoid eating rodents (home keeping, a bell on the collar when kept outdoors).

Conclusion

It is very important to differentiate diarrhea caused by protozoa from viral or bacterial enteritis. The sooner the necessary studies are done, the faster the cat will be able to recover.

KotoDigest

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Development cycle. The life cycle of coccidia development is characterized by three periods:

1. Shizogonia.
2. Gametogony.
3. Sporogony.

The essence of gametogony lies in the fact that subsequent generations of schizonts form merozoites that penetrate the host cell and turn into mononuclear trophozoites. Then macrogametocytes and microgametocytes are formed from mononuclear trophozoites. Macrohematocytes turn into macrogametes. In microgametocytes, the nucleus divides, resulting in the formation of small male cells - microgametes. After the formation of macrogametes and microgametes, they merge to form a copula or zygote. The zygote is surrounded by a membrane and turns into an oocyst. Oocysts can vary in size and shape depending on the species. All of them have a double-circuit shell and granular cytoplasm. Such oocysts exit the cat's body into the external environment and go through the sporogony stage. In the external environment, in the presence of heat, moisture and oxygen, four spores are formed in the oocyst, and each of them contains two sporozoites. With the formation of spores and sporozoites in the oocyst, sporogony ends. Such oocysts become mature and, when ingested, infect the cat.

epidemiological data. Coccidiosis is a widespread infection in cats. Most often, kittens under the age of one year suffer from coccidiosis. In older cats, the disease is mild or asymptomatic. Such cats are a source of infestation of kittens.

Infection of cats with coccidiosis occurs through food, water, contaminated care items (bowls, toys, etc.), which are infested with coccidia oocysts.

Kittens often become infected through contaminated mother's nipples, as well as wool when licking her.

Gross violations in feeding and keeping cats can provoke a disease in cats:

• Abrupt change in feeding regimen;
• Stress associated with weaning a kitten from its mother;
• Violation of zoohygienic conditions of detention;
• Infectious diseases;
• The presence of helminthic diseases ();

Oocysts are very stable in the external environment and are able to remain viable for up to a year or more, while at the same time they quickly die when dried, especially under the action of sunlight and heating.

Insects (flies), rodents (rats, mice) and birds can be mechanical carriers of the disease.

Coccidiosis in cats is recorded at any time of the year.

Pathogenesis. Once in the intestines of a cat, coccidia penetrate into the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane, destroy them, mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa occurs. Pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) penetrate into such damaged areas of the intestine, which aggravate the course of coccidiosis, often leading to the development of hemorrhagic inflammation of the intestine, and then the formation of foci of necrosis. As a result of all this, entire sections of the cat's intestines are turned off from the digestion process. In the small intestine, there is a violation of the main type of digestion - membrane. There is a violation of hydrolysis and absorption of nutrients, as a result of this, the cat experiences chronic starvation of the body. Inflammatory processes on the mucous membrane and its necrosis increase the accumulation of exudate in the intestinal lumen, which makes it difficult for the fluid to be absorbed into the animal's body. As a result of all these processes in the intestines, the cat develops diarrhea, which creates a negative water balance for the body, an increase in blood viscosity occurs, the work of the heart becomes more difficult, which ultimately leads to the death of the cat.

Clinical picture. The incubation period for coccidiosis is from 7-9 days, sometimes up to 2 weeks, depending on the general condition of the animal's body, the resistance of its immune system.

The disease is sometimes subdivided according to the location of coccidia into several forms. However, most researchers note that the disease occurs in cats mainly in a mixed form with a predominant lesion of the intestine. In the future, the liver, heart, spleen, kidneys and other important organs are involved in the pathological process in a cat. At the beginning of the disease, the small and large intestines are affected. After the incubation period in kittens, less often in adult cats, lethargy appears, they become inactive, there is a sharp depression. The appetite of a sick animal is reduced or absent. A sick cat lies on its stomach most of the time. The abdomen is tense on palpation, swollen (), painful. Sometimes there is vomiting (). Visible mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth are pale, sometimes icteric. The cat develops diarrhea (), stools are liquid with a lot of mucus, sometimes there are blood. In acute course, body temperature rises to 40 degrees or more. When a cat develops a coma, the temperature drops below normal.

In the chronic course of coccidiosis, the cat periodically vomits, diarrhea may alternate with constipation (). Weakness, apathy appears, the coat loses its luster and becomes dull. Progressive exhaustion () begins to appear. Dysbacteriosis develops. Against the background of a weakened immune system, other diseases develop, including the defeat of a cat with a helminthic invasion.

Kittens infected with coccidiosis are stunted and lose weight. The hair and coat of sick animals becomes dull, brittle and disheveled. Some cats have polyuria (frequent urination). Sometimes the secretion of saliva increases. Saliva becomes thick and viscous. Catarrh of the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and conjunctiva may develop. A purulent exudate accumulates in the corners of the eyes and nasal openings of the dog, which then dries up, forming crusts.

With liver damage, cats weaken, complain of pain on palpation in the right hypochondrium, meow, and sometimes show aggressiveness. Kittens are very thin, there are signs of rickets. The yellowness of the mucous membranes increases (). When the nervous system is involved in the pathological process, the cat may have convulsions of a different nature, less often paresis and paralysis of the limbs and some sphincters.

Pathological changes. The dead cat's corpse is emaciated. Visible mucous membranes are anemic and icteric. The mucous membrane of the small, and sometimes the large intestine, is thickened and catarrhal. In severe acute course of coccidiosis, hemorrhagic and even diphtheritic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa occurs. The affected liver and spleen are greatly enlarged and degenerate. The bile ducts are dilated, the walls of the bile ducts are thickened. On the surface of the liver or in the parenchyma, whitish nodules the size of a millet grain or a pea can be seen. These nodules are filled with cheesy content and contain many oocysts.

In the chronic course of coccidiosis, the mucous membrane of the thin, less often large intestine is slightly thickened, gray in color and dotted with whitish, dense nodules filled with coccidia.

Diagnosis. The diagnosis of coccidiosis is made by veterinarians in a complex manner, taking into account epizootic, clinical and pathological-anatomical data, as well as microscopic studies of fecal masses using the Darling method.

differential diagnosis. Coccidiosis must be differentiated from isospores, sarcocystosis, poisoning (,), as well as infectious diseases such as parvovirus enteritis, leptospirosis (), etc. To exclude infectious diseases, pathological material is sent to a veterinary laboratory. Poisoning is excluded by detailed collection of anamnestic data.

Treatment. Treatment of coccidiosis should be comprehensive. Treatment begins with the appointment of a sick cat diet. Easily digestible and slightly irritating to the digestive tract feed should be included in the diet: meat and fish broths, decoctions of medicinal herbs, especially flax seeds and rice, fermented milk products - kefir, yogurt, acidophilus, bifidok, bifiline, etc., raw chicken eggs, preferably purchased from owners of household plots and peasant farms, liquid rice or oatmeal porridge in water and beef broth.

In the treatment regimen, veterinary specialists include various coccidiostatics - chemcoccid for 3 days. It is given with food at the rate of 0.024 g per 1 kg of body weight of a cat. In addition to it, the following are successfully used: baycox 5%, coccidine, coccidiovit, amprolium, farmcoccid, toltrazuril, etc. The dose and course of treatment for coccidiosis should be prescribed by the veterinarian of the clinic.

In the absence of coccidiostatics, they can be replaced with sulfa drugs: sulfadimezin or norsulfazol. These drugs are dissolved in water and fed with it for 5-7 days or mixed with feed at the rate of 0.01 - 0.05 g / kg. Sulfadimethoxine is prescribed to a sick cat at a dose of 0.1-0.2 g / kg with food, and in the next four days at a dose of 0.05-0.1 g / kg; trimethoprim-sulfadiazine. An even better effect is achieved with the simultaneous use of sulfonamides and antibiotics. Antibiotics are used in therapeutic doses.

With coccidiosis, a good therapeutic effect is the use of nitrofuran preparations (furadonin and furozolidone).

Symptomatic treatment should include vitamins, dehydration therapy is carried out - the use of saline, rheosorbilact, glucose; treatment of enteritis and disturbed epithelium - traumeel, verakop; hepatoprotectors (catozol), treatment of dysbacteriosis - lactobacterin, vetom; antiallergic and hemostatic drugs.

Prevention. Prevention of coccidiosis should be based on strict observance by cat owners of zoohygienic rules of keeping. Cats are kept clean, in dry, well-ventilated areas. Avoid contact with stray cats while walking. Based on the fact that coccidiosis spreads when it enters the external environment with feces, feces are collected and burned. Completely exclude the possibility of contamination of food and water with coccidiosis oocysts. Given that most household disinfectants are not very effective against coccidia, a 10% ammonia solution is used. Dishes and care items should be washed and disinfected regularly and thoroughly.

Deworm regularly.

In order to maintain the immunity of cats at an appropriate level, owners must provide full-fledged feeding, the feeding ration must be balanced in nutrients and vitamins.

Excited by microorganisms from childbirth Isospora and Eimeria, so the disease is often considered related or given the name eimeriosis. Coccidiosis occurs in other animals, as well as in humans, but in those cases, the causative agent is other types of coccidia.

Oocysts invade the mucosa and submucosa of the intestine

Coccidia may not manifest themselves for a long time, gradually multiplying in the intestines. An exacerbation, as a rule, begins during a period of weakened immunity, which is typical for immunodeficiency, at a young or old age. The symptoms and treatment of coccidiosis in cats is largely determined by individual resistance.

Symptoms

The first symptoms make themselves felt a week after infection. The term may vary depending on the strength of the immunity of the pet. The younger the kitten, the earlier the clinical course of the disease begins and the more difficult it is. In adult cats, the disease tends to pass into chronic stage.

If alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately take the cat to the veterinarian

Basically, the disease occurs against the background of a weakened immune system and therefore may be accompanied by the development other pathologies, intestinal infections and helminthiases. The main symptoms in the acute stage of coccidiosis are as follows:

• apathetic behavior;
• increase in temperature by several degrees;
• watery diffuse diarrhea several times a day;
• mucus and blood in feces;
• swelling of the liver and gallbladder;
• the appearance of yellowness on the mucous membranes;
• intestinal malabsorption and dehydration;
• occurrence of muscle cramps.

With the transition of the disease to the chronic stage, there is a gradual general deterioration, soreness, poor quality of wool, apathy and lack of appetite. With constant dysbacteriosis, intestinal functions are disrupted, which leads to necrotic changes. It is extremely important to start treatment of coccidiosis in cats on time.

Diagnosis and treatment

Coccidia in cats is detected by microscopic analysis of feces. To facilitate the study of feces, various staining techniques can be used. The oocysts found serve as proof that the cat is indeed sick with coccidiosis.

There are many antiprotozoal drugs for pets.

However, the acute stage of the disease usually falls on the asexual period of reproduction of pathogens, when oocysts have not yet formed. For this reason, veterinarians often resort to differential diagnosis, which allows you to distinguish coccidiosis from other intestinal infections characteristic of cats.

After confirming the diagnosis it is necessary to isolate the cat from other animals and burn her faeces. After that, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the housing in order to avoid the spread of the disease. An isolated cat needs to eat well and drink plenty of water to replenish fluid loss.

The very same treatment is based on the use of antiprotozoal drugs such as Sulfadimetoksin and Trimethoprim-Sulfadiazine. The cat's body is supported by the introduction of isotonic glucose and various solutions that replenish the amount of fluid in the body.

Symptomatic therapy is also carried out: the cat is prescribed vitamin complexes, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs, to restore the functions of the intestinal mucosa. To prevent the pet from becoming a lifelong carrier of coccidia, you should take the cat to the veterinarian when the first alarming symptoms appear.

In contact with

Cats are one of the best hunters in nature. They live all over the world and some of them have adapted to extremely harsh weather conditions in places like Norway and Siberia. This, however, does not mean that they are invincible. Individuals from the cat family can get sick with a variety of diseases. Many of them are similar to those that occur in humans.

There are different types of coccidia. Isospora Rivolta and are the most common.

How often does it occur?

Can a person get coccidiosis?

Yes and no. The most common types of coccidia cannot be transmitted to humans. But some, rarer types, such as Cryptosporidium easily enter the intestines.

Coccidia is usually very common in overcrowded shelters and stray animals due to lack of hygiene and healthcare.

Causes of the disease

Being a microorganism, coccidia can be transmitted to a cat after it has been in contact with an infected cat. This usually happens when a kitten has contact with the feces of a random wild animal, or if it shares a litter box with an infected domestic cat.

It is also possible to get coccidiosis if a cat eats an infected animal - a rodent or a bird.

Finally, coccidiosis can be passed on to a newborn kitten from its mother.

It is possible to see symptoms only after the infection hits the kitten. What happens when you get infected?

• Diarrhea.
• Mucus in stool.
• Dehydration.
• Vomit.
• Abdominal distress.
• Death.

As mentioned above, an animal can be infected even without showing telltale signs of infection. If you suspect something is wrong, keep an eye on how the animal behaves.

If any of the above signs are present, you should contact your veterinarian. Describe the problem as clearly as possible and take the cat to the doctor as soon as possible. If you adopted a kitten from a shelter and it has never been tested before, it may be infected with coccidiosis even if it has not come into contact with animals near your home.

Treatment Methods

Coccidiosis can be cured if the infection is detected early. The veterinarian will create a treatment plan to remove coccidia from the kitten's body. You need to follow the plan exactly to prevent further spread of the infection.

Drinking plenty of water is essential to recovery. Most likely, the infection will lead to dehydration from diarrhea, the most dangerous part of the disease. In this case, the doctor often puts a dropper. Changing the diet is also possible if the veterinarian sees fit.

During the treatment plan, you must also look after your own health. It is better to use disposable gloves when cleaning the tray. You should be careful with everything you touch or inhale, regardless of the type of coccidia your cat has contracted. If you adopted a kitten from a breeder or from another owner, you should immediately warn the previous owner. There is a possibility of spreading the infection in the same place.

Prevention

Cleanliness is the main rule for the prevention of infection. Clean the tray as often as possible, at least in the morning and evening. Disinfect the tray and everything around it. If possible, do not let your pets leave the house, so they do not get an infection from rodents and birds. Feed your cats high quality food to keep them healthy and immune.

Wash your water and food bowls every day. Minimize incoming stress. If one individual in your household shows signs of illness, treatment should be initiated for all cats.