Spirometra erinacei / S. erinaceieuropaei in a feral cat in Manawatu with chronic intermittent diarrhoea

Authors: Scott I, Ugarte CE, Collett MG, Gasser RB, Thomas DG, Hu M
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 53, Issue 5, pp 347-351, Oct 2005
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cat, Companion animal
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Biosecurity, Cestode, Parasites - internal, Disease/defect, Feral animal, New hosts/new diseases, Public health, Species description, Zoonosis, Infectious disease
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: CASE HISTORY: A feral cat captured in the Manawatu region of New Zealand was treated for worms and fleas, and kept confined in a metabolic cage. It showed good appetite and weight gain but had intermittent watery, yellow diarrhoea.
CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical examination under sedation was unremarkable and routine blood tests showed no significant abnormalities. The cat was negative for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). Different canned cat foods did not alter the course of the diarrhoea, and the cat was euthanised 6 months after capture. At necropsy, two sections of adult Spirometra tapeworms were found in the jejunum and typical Spirometra eggs were found in colonic contents. Molecular identification of the parasite was undertaken, using the cytochrome-c oxidase subunit-1 gene (cox1) sequence.
DIAGNOSIS: Chronic intermittent diarrhoea associated with Spirometra erinacei / S. erinaceieuropaei infection.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Spirometra has not been reported in New Zealand before but has been associated with gastrointestinal disease in cats in other parts of the world. It requires species targeted treatment to be eliminated effectively, and is zoonotic. Diagnosis could be difficult for clinicians who are not familiar with the parasite and its life cycle.
KEY WORDS: Spirometra, tapeworms, feline gastrointestinal parasites, diarrhoea, cats, sparganosis, zoonosis

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