What is giardiasis in cats

Most varieties of unicellular organisms living in animals pose no danger to humans, but there are common types of protozoa that can migrate to humans. People are often unaware that animals are the main carriers of infections. The owner kisses a furry animal without thinking about whether it is contagious to humans or not, but these cute creatures are natural spreaders of parasitic diseases.

Lambliasis in cats – symptoms and treatment

Lambliosis is a dangerous infection of a chronic nature, caused by a protozoan microorganism. Lamblia can affect not only farm and wild animals, but also humans. Most often protozoan infection is found in the feces of animals kept in shelter conditions.

All cats are susceptible to the infection, but in the frequency of clinical cases giardiasis affects small kittens. It is not scientifically proven whether humans can be infected by giardia transmitted from a cat, but for safety reasons it is advisable to avoid contact with sick animals.

Once in the body, giardia begin to parasitize in the small intestine, damaging the villous membranes. Parasitic microorganisms have a specific suction cup, which they use to attach to the inside of the digestive system. They have a high degree of reproduction, and the highest danger lies in the fact that during their life activity parasites release toxic substances.

Poisonous substances cause damage to the intestinal villi, reduce the absorption process and lead to the opening of the gates of secundum microflora. Against the background of the pathological process, the animal suffers dehydration and may die. Also giardiasis can cause complex reactions of the allergic type, which are difficult to therapeutic methods.

Features and causes of the disease

Lamblia in cats is caused by protozoan microorganisms – giardia. These microorganisms are anaerobes. This means that they live and multiply perfectly well in conditions without the presence of oxygen.

Lamblia have a special disk (suction cup), through which they are attached to the villi of the small intestine. They are fed by a specific process – pinocytosis. Lamblia feed on the products formed in the process of food breakdown, as well as absorbing substances contained in the food.

Transmission of the pathogen occurs by the food (alimentary) route. When a cat eats contaminated food or consumes giardia-infected water, the parasites penetrate the digestive tract, settling and multiplying there.

Infection with giardiasis in cats and dogs is also possible when a healthy animal comes into contact with a sick one. It has been proved that the largest number of giardia cysts is excreted into the environment through feces, and since the contagiousness of protozoan infection is quite high, cats are very likely to become infected.

The parasites are highly resistant to environmental factors, remaining dangerous to mammals for a long period of time. They are virtually insensitive to chlorine and direct sunlight. If Giardia cysts are exposed to high humidity, their ability to survive increases several times.

Giardia cysts penetrate the intestinal tract, causing degenerative processes, and secrete toxic substances that poison the animal's body. A sharp deterioration in the absorption of essential nutrients in the body, leads to serious pathological processes. The main one is general dehydration against the background of profuse diarrhea, in which over time there may be blood fractions from the destroyed intestinal walls.

Against the background of giardiasis in cats can develop severe allergic reactions, difficult to treat. Especially if the exact cause of the pathological condition is not diagnosed.

Giardiasis in cats

Lambliasis – is a disease caused by protozoan parasites that reproduce by simple division and are not visible to the human eye. In total, there are about 41 species of giardia, some of which circulate only in species communities, such as dogs, cats, rodents, various species of wild animals. However, the rest of the parasites have an interspecies host (potentially dangerous to humans).

There are two forms of the giardia life cycle: trophozoites and cysts.

The source of infection Cysts, the capsules of which are very stable and can survive for approximately a month in the environment, are a source of infection. One cyst contains two parasites. When cysts are swallowed, they are transported through the gastrointestinal tract where, under the influence of gastric acid, their membrane weakens. Reaching the main place of localization, the small intestine, the cysts are transformed into trophozoites, which very quickly cover the entire mucosa of the small intestine, attaching themselves by sucking discs without causing any mechanical damage. The formation of a new organism takes 15-20 minutes and the number of parasites per sq.cm can exceed 1 million individuals. They prevent the absorption of nutrients, even water, which actually leads to diarrhea. The host's immune response to a foreign organism contributes to the destruction of intestinal cells – they peel off, die, thus creating foci on the intestinal mucosa. The infected organism is completely unaffected by the presence of giardia until a high degree of infestation, which is already accompanied by clinical signs. In contrast to cysts, trophozoites die quickly in the environment, so they are transformed into cysts once they are in the large intestine.

Sources of infection are visiting wooded areas (contact with feces of infected animals), low quality or standing water.

Symptoms

When actively multiplying, more than 1,000,000 pathogens may be present on 1 cm² of the surface of the intestinal wall. Covering the intestinal wall with a thick layer, they release toxins into the cat's body, damage the epithelium, cause avitaminosis and dysbacteriosis.

• Weight loss on the background of good appetite.
• Chronic diarrhea.
• Watery stools of a pale yellowish or greenish color with a pungent odor.
• Dry skin.
• Brittleness, dull hair color.
• Development of allergic reactions.

Vomiting and lethargy are observed in some animals. Possible admixture of mucus and blood in the feces, which appear due to significant damage to the intestinal walls.

Lambliasis in cats

Lambliasis – Is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan single-celled parasite Giardia canis, which lives in the small intestine in cats.

Cycle of development. Lamblia (Giardia) is a protozoan unicellular flagellated microorganism, one of the most common parasites of different species of animals (cats, dogs, rodents) and birds. Lamblia also affect humans. Lamblia have two nuclei and two sets of organoids – four pairs of symmetrically arranged flagella, two medial bodies – all for simple reproduction by longitudinal division in half.

The body of the giardia is pear-shaped – the anterior part is rounded and dilated, the posterior part is pointed. On the lower surface of the parasite's body is a sucking disc. It attaches itself to the microvilli of the small intestine, where it begins its parasitic life by feeding on the digested food of the cat. Giardia have no mouth opening; they suck up food with their entire body surface. Vegetative forms (trophozoites) parasitizing in the small intestine descend into the large intestine and form cysts, which are excreted with feces into the external environment. Trophozoides is a pathogenic and invasive form capable of reproduction. It is very sensitive to external conditions and therefore, once released into the external environment, it immediately dies. Therefore, giardia has a second form of existence – cysts. This temporary form is characterized by a protective shell (the microorganism as if "occluded"), which makes it more resistant to adverse factors. Giardia cysts are oval in shape. Immature cysts are two-nucleated, mature cysts are four-nucleated. The shell partially lags behind the protoplasm, which is their characteristic difference from the cysts of other intestinal protozoa. Giardia cysts are resistant to low temperatures, but die instantly when boiled. Cysts like moisture, drying them in the air for 24 hours leads to complete death. They can live in soil and water for several months. Cysts are resistant to UV radiation and chlorine. It is the "cyst" form that serves to "transport" the parasite.

Vaccination and prophylaxis

To date, no drug has proven itself as a reliable means of preventing giardiasis in cats. Although a giardia vaccine is available, there is no sufficient evidence that it is effective. According to one study, young kittens who received the vaccine were immune to the infection after 6-12 months, but the vaccine caused local reactions. Other studies show that the vaccine may not be effective in previously infected cats and will not prevent reinfection.

The best prevention of giardiasis is environmental control, which includes disinfecting potentially infected areas of the house and removing the parasite organisms from the cat's fur. If there is any change in your cat's behavior or well-being, you should contact your veterinarian for an expert opinion.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Lacey Shable is a veterinarian specializing in small animals; a veterinary writer. She is the recipient of numerous awards for educating pet owners and is considered a leading veterinary expert in telemedicine.

Cat and dog lambliosis

If you find your pet showing signs of unreasonable weight loss while maintaining appetite, chronic diarrhea or other signs of intestinal dysfunction, then one of the causes of this condition may be Giardiasis.

Lambliasis (Giardiasis, from the Latin Giardia) – A parasitic disease caused by the single-celled flagellated microorganism Giardia (Lamblia) that lives in the small intestine dogs и cats. Giardia parasitizes in many animals, birdsand in humans as well.

Lamblia intestinalis causes disease in humans. There is evidence that dogs can get it, but they also have their own parasite, Giardia canis. Cats are infected with the Giardia cati species. Other species of the genus Lamblia (there are more than 10) parasitize in the intestines of various mammals (mice, rabbits), 1 species exists in amphibians.
It is one of the most common parasites of animals. Lambliosis in cats and dogs is registered everywhere in Russia and elsewhere in the world.

Lamblia has a pear-shaped body and four pairs of flagella. The anterior end is dilated and rounded, the posterior end, on the contrary, is narrowed and pointed, the size is from 10-18 µm (for comparison, the thickness of human hair is from 80 to 110 µm). Under unfavorable conditions, they are capable of forming cysts. They are anaerobic microorganisms that do not require oxygen to live. Giardia are attached to the villi of the small intestine by a special attachment disk on the cell surface. Feeding occurs through pinocytosis (feeding by the products of food breakdown, which is absorbed by the entire cell surface of the liquid with the substances contained in it).

Lamblia multiply by longitudinal division in two (trophozoite stage). Both trophozoites and cysts enter the external environment; only cysts that can be found in the external environment (water bodies, tap water, etc.) survive. They enter new hosts by the fecal-oral route (with food or contaminated water).

Treatment of the disease

To get rid of harmful microorganisms in an animal is better with the help of professionals, but many owners try to heal themselves, not always understanding how and with what to treat, what consequences can cause such improvisations with pets. The complete cure of a pet from giardia is shown by their absence after a threefold examination of the feces. Therapy is prescribed repeatedly if parasites are found in the study of feces.

There are special drugs, and the treatment of giardiasis Metronidazole guarantees more than 60% of cases of recovery. Doctors also prescribe Nifuratel or Albendazole. The instructions for use take into account the dosages for humans, and for animals they are significantly reduced. Along with therapy, doctors recommend providing dietary nutrition to cats.

An overdose of medication can threaten the cat with serious consequences, so the treatment regimen should be prescribed only by a doctor. A multifaceted approach always guarantees positive results.

Prevention of giardiasis in cats

Compliance with the usual hygienic rules will keep both animals and people safe from parasitic diseases. Treating surfaces and disinfecting rooms with antibacterial agents reduces the risk of infection with different species of infusoria. Cleaning the cat litter box should be done with protective gloves. It is treated with special products and doused with boiling water: giardia die at high temperatures. Meal bowls are thoroughly washed, and after that the contact surfaces are cleaned with hygienic means.

Advanced disease in cats sometimes requires long therapy, but if you do not neglect the simple rules of hygiene, you can easily protect them and yourself from infection with parasites.

Reduced body weight while maintaining appetite

Manifestations of infectious disease depend largely on the age of the cat and the state of its immune system. Often experts are faced with the fact that the clinical picture is erased and largely atypical.

Reduced body weight while maintaining appetite is one of the common symptoms of giardiasis.

In the early stages of development, indigestion and increased drowsiness of the animal cannot be ruled out. The owner may mistakenly perceive these manifestations as a malaise that goes away on its own.

Noteworthy is the fact that giardiasis, although it is a dangerous disease that directly threatens the health of the pet, can proceed without a pronounced clinical picture.

Refusal of food in cats with giardiasis is rare. Most often, appetite is maintained, but chronic watery diarrhea and lethargy are present.

Against this background, the pet's weight decreases, which is also due to dehydration due to diarrhea. Faeces with giardiasis have a pungent, unpleasant odor, greenish color and blood and mucus.

All the fats, minerals, and vitamins necessary for the body simply do not have time to be absorbed and are removed from the body. This leads to starvation at the cellular level, which has a dramatic negative impact on the function of all internal organs.

Cough

The symptoms of giardiasis can vary depending on which system of the body is more susceptible to the pathological process.

It can occur with any type of infection. In some cases, it may be the only obvious sign of the pathology.

Diagnosis of the disease is difficult because the animal is initially examined for the presence of possible inflammatory processes specifically in the respiratory tract. Even if the animal is prescribed anti-cough medications, they are not effective.

Pathogens like giardia are not able to live in the lungs. They live only in parts of the small intestine or in the liver. It is also impossible for protozoan microorganisms to get into the respiratory organs and settle there. Therefore, a cough that is not accompanied by inflammation, when diagnosed, may be clearly allergic in nature.

Treatment [ ]

Lambliasis is treated, but it must be combated in a timely and competent manner. Therefore, when your pet has its symptoms, we go to the doctor!

Lamblia are parasites, and they are expelled by antiparasitic agents. Simple antihelmintic drugs will not help here, an antibiotic is required.

The most commonly used is metronidazole, less commonly tinidazole and furazolidone, or a combination of both.

Enterosorbents (for detoxification) and probiotics (to improve intestinal microflora) shall be prescribed together with them, a special diet is also advisable.

The usual course of treatment is 7-10 days. Repeat tests are done to make sure the treatment is effective.

Lamblia in cats are more resistant to treatment than, for example, in dogs. Therefore, sometimes several courses of treatment or drug substitutions are required.

In the magazine "Veterinary Focus" (2009, №19.1) there is a case of a cat diagnosed with giardiasis based on the test results with certainty and treated with metronidazole. At first, the severity of the diarrhea decreased, but 10 days after treatment, the condition worsened again. It turned out that the free walking cat sometimes played in the yard with a kitten. Both cats were additionally treated with fenbendazole, bathed and dried (to exclude the presence of cysts in the fur), disinfected litter boxes and places where cats walk. Only after that the symptoms disappeared, the fecal examinations (including repeated ones in three weeks) gave negative results and we had no further complaints.

Can a cat infect a human? [ ]

There are different types of giardia: in humans – Lamblia intestinalis, in dogs – Giardia canis, in cats – Giardia cati, other types (about 10) are in rodents (mice, rabbits) and birds, 1 type – in amphibians. All seem to have their own forms of giardiasis. Nevertheless,

the question whether a person can contract it from a cat remains controversial. Therefore, while scientists are solving this problem, it is better to assume that it is possible.

Preventing giardiasis involves hygiene (wash your hands more often, and always after cleaning the litter box), disinfecting surfaces (chlorine bleach can be used), drying popular cat spots, and treating bowls and litter boxes with boiling water.