There are several types of parasites, but here are the most common ones!
What is Coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is a parasitic type of infection caused by the Coccidia Parasite. Coccidiosis is an intestinal tract infection caused by a one-celled organism or protozoa called coccidia. In cats and dogs, most coccidias are of the isopspora felis and Isospora rivolta and are the most common coccidia found in cats and dogs.
Coccidia are not parasitic intestinal worms; they are microscopic parasites that reside within the cells of the intestinal lining.
Because they live in the intestinal tract and most commonly cause diarrhea, they are often confused with worms. It most commonly causes watery, mucus-based diarrhea in animals.
If not treated, it can damage the lining of a cat’s intestinal tract over time. However, with appropriate and prompt treatment, the prognosis is good.
Oocysts or immature coccidia are passed in the stool of an infected cat. They lie in the environment and eventually sporulate and mature into a more developed oocyst that can re-infect the cat or dog. Other cats, dogs, and rodents in the household might also become infected.
This process can occur in as little as six hours but usually takes 7 to 10 days.
If the sporulated oocysts are swallowed, they mature in the animal’s intestine to complete the life cycle. If a mouse swallows the oocysts, a cat may become infected by eating the infected mouse.
Giardia spp.
Giardia spp. are single-celled parasitic organisms (protozoa) found in the intestines of cats and many other animals. These microscopic parasites attach to the intestinal wall or swim freely in the mucous lining of the intestines.
Approximately four percent of pets in North America are expected to have Giardia. Cats less than three years old are more frequently infected than older cats.
Life cycle of Giardia
Giardia occurs in two forms:
A motile feeding stage known as a trophozoite lives within the intestine alongside a non-motile stage.
The cyst develops as the parasite is swept down the intestine, just before it is excreted in the feces. Cysts are fully developed when the enclosed protozoan divides, creating two daughter organisms.
The daughter trophozoites are released when the cysts are ingested by accident.
Once the parasites are released, they repeatedly increase their numbers by dividing them in half.
What is giardia?
Giardiasis is an intestinal infection affecting both humans and animals, caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia). Giardia is a simple, single-celled parasitic species; it is neither a worm, bacteria, nor a virus. This parasite is found worldwide and is a common cause of “traveler’s diarrhea” in people.
Outdoor enthusiasts who inadvertently consume contaminated water may develop “beaver fever,” another name for giardiasis in humans. Other protozoan parasites that can cause enteric (intestinal) diseases include coccidia, cryptosporidium, and toxoplasma.
The Giardia organism has two forms. A fragile, feeding form exists in the infected’s gut. A hardy cystic form is shed in feces and can survive several months in the environment, particularly in water and damp environments.
Giardiasis can be a significant cause of diarrhea in both animals and humans. However, many cats are infected without showing clinical signs, or their diarrhea is treated as non-specific.
Giardia infection in pets is undoubtedly more common than recognized or diagnosed.
The parasite has a one- to two-week incubation period. Most cats are asymptomatic, although they may continue passing on cysts for months or years. Clinical signs are most likely to be seen in younger animals from multi-cat household environments.
Tritrichomonas Foetus
Tritrichomonas foetus is a microscopic, single-celled, flagellated protozoan parasite that has long been recognized as a cause of reproductive disease in cattle, including infertility, abortion, and endometritis.
Tritrichomonas foetus is yet another infectious organism causing diarrhea in feline patients, typically with a history of group living. This organism was once believed to infect only cattle, where it leads to miscarriage and fertility issues; however, in 2003, T. foetus emerged as an infectious agent for cats. The information and recommendations regarding this organism have evolved over the last several years, and we aim to provide the most up-to-date summary of what is known and recommended for the prevention and treatment of this infection.
- The fetus is shed in the feces of an infected cat. Transmission most commonly occurs when cats share a litter box, as the organism can live for up to three days in fecal material. Whenever a cat steps in the feces of an infected cat, the organism can be transferred to its paws and later licked up during grooming.
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