GIARDIASIS IN CATS?
Did you know that in addition to dogs, cats can also become infected with Giardia?
Giardiasis is an infection caused by flagellated protozoa of the genus Giardia spp., which inhabit the intestinal tract of a wide variety of vertebrate species, including companion animals and humans. It is a highly relevant infection in the medical clinic of small animals, with a higher incidence on dogs, but cats can also be infected. It is also characterized as zoonosis, a disease that can also be transmitted to humans, so the owners must be careful when handling the feces of affected animals.
Companion animals play an important role as hosts of gastrointestinal protozoa, allowing a fecal-oral transmission through direct contact with contaminated feces or ingestion of contaminated food and water. Protozoa of the genus Giardia are found in the small intestine of infected animals (in the form of trophozoite), where they remain attached to the mucosa. The infective forms, also called cysts, are eliminated along with the feces and can remain infective for several months in humid environments.
Giardiasis is more frequent in puppies (cats or dogs), with compromised immunity, inefficient nutritional condition and not dewormed. However, adults may also rarely present clinical manifestations of the infection, or often be asymptomatic.
In cats, the period between infection and the appearance of the first clinical signs varies from 5 to 16 days. The most common clinical sign is intestinal, with pale, foul-smelling diarrhea. These diarrheas can be acute, chronic or intermittent, but some animals may not show clinical signs, being carriers, thus eliminating the cysts continuously, keeping the environment frequently infected. The disease can be severe in immunocompromised puppies and animals, as diarrhea accompanies dehydration and loss of appetite, with growth retardation.
The diagnosis of infection occurs through laboratory tests, such as stool tests, where Giardia cysts are found in the feces. Another method used is Elisa, which detects antigens in feces. Both can often be non-specific, so clinical signs are also considered.
The treatment instituted by the veterinarian includes the use of antibiotics, which should not be used in pregnant females, associated with dewormers. In addition to the use of a quaternary ammonia-based product to clean the environment, thus inactivating the cysts so that reinfection of the animals does not occur.
Therefore, the best way to prevent Giardiasis is to perform frequent deworming, with Febantel-based dewormers that prevent the protozoan Giardia spp., in addition to applying vaccine against the disease. Always consult the veterinarian so that he can inform you about the best way of prevention.
By : Dr. Jessica Moreira - Veterinarian
