Coccidia are protozoan parasites that live in the cells of the intestinal lining. Cats usually become infected with coccidia by encountering the stool of other infected cats. Such stool usually contains oocysts or immature coccidia. These cysts mature and if another cat ingests these cysts the new cat becomes infected. Symptoms of coccidia are usually diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting. If your cat has/had coccidia you will also want to disinfect your home with a diluted bleach solution to kill any cysts that may still be present in the environment. You can also help stop the spread of coccidia by keeping a clean litterbox and removing any fecal material in the box promptly. Such cysts can survive in the environment and keep re-infecting your cats for a long time to come. The most common coccidia does not affect people. However there are some rare forms of coccidia which can infect humans, but these are rare.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasitic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. Infection by Toxoplasma gondii is fairly common, however we rarely see disease caused by this parasite (generally disease is see in kittens, the old, and immuno-compromised animals). The parasite is seen in three different forms: cyst, oocyst or tachyzoite. Most felines get toxoplasmosis from meat that is raw or contaminated with any of the three stages of parasite. When a cat ingests meat (raw meat, a rodent, other prey) that is infected with the parasite, the parasite moves to the wall of the small intestine where it will grow and mature. At this point the cat will excrete oocysts (in high numbers) in his/her feces. These oocysts are infective to other animals and humans. Pregnant mothers need to be extra careful of contracting toxoplasmosis as it can cause birth defects in the unborn child - the best prevention is not to handle feces while pregnant. These oocysts are very resistant to environmental conditions and can survive in the environment for months. Thus proper cleaning and disinfection is important. Note that the parasite can also spread from the intestine to other areas of the body (liver, pancreas, nervous system etc.) In most cases the cat's immune system fights off the parasite and thus no symptoms are seen. These cysts can simply remain dormant in the cat's body for the lifespan of the cat (the cat does not shed oocysts into the environment at this time). If symptoms are see they can include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, or respiratory distress.
Giardia is a parasitic infection of the small intestines. Most cats contract giardia by drinking contaminated water. This problem is most often seen in outdoor cats who drink 'dirty water'. There are two forms of giardia, trophozoites and cysts. Trophozoites are the form that live in the intestines of the infected cat. While cysts are the form that is shed into the environment by the infected cat. These cysts are very resistent and can remain in the environment for months if affected areas are not appropriately cleaned (through disinfectants). Improper cleaning can be responsible for re-infection. Symptoms of giardia include diarrhea, stomach cramps, gas, bloating, lethargy, weight loss. It is unclear as to whether or not giardia can infect humans.
Symptoms to look for:
? Diarrhea
? Pot-belly appearance
? Lethargy
? Vomiting
? Huge appetite/Poor appetite
? Weight loss (despite large appetite)
? Anemia
? Poor coat appearance
? Redness, discharge of the eye (for eyeworms only)
Treatment:
If you suspect that your cat has any sort of parasite take him/her to the vet. Your vet will perform blood tests, fecal examination and/or other diagnostic tests to determine what type of disease or parasite the cat has. Most parasites are fairly easily treatable with medications and drug therapy. And remember parasites can lay thousands of eggs in your home so make sure to thoroughly clean your house if your pet has been infected. This will protect your pet from getting reinfected.
Currently there is no known cure for heartworm. This is because when heartworms die they must pass through the pulmonary arteries which causes the possibility of arterial blockage and death. So the best course of action to date is prevention. If your cat does have heartworm the best thing to do is to treat the symptoms and to hope that the cat outlives the worm as killing the heartworm can be very dangerous to the feline.
Precautionary measures:
Many kittens are born with worms and thus may need several dewormings during the first months of life. If you have a cat who has had kittens or you have adopted abandoned kittens make sure to talk to your vet about deworming and other necessary vaccinations. For more information on kitten development and when kittens need dewormed click here.
For adults most internal parasites are contracted by eating uncooked food, infected food, dirty/contaminated water, or dirty litterbox conditions. Thus make sure your cat eats a healthy diet and eats out of clean water and food bowls at all times. Also keep your cat's litter box clean and free from any potential bacteria or parasites, and dispose of excrements on a regular basis. If you have an outdoor cat you may want to talk to your vet about preventative steps that you can take to keep your cat healthy. And anytime you introduce a new cat, especially a kitten, into your home make sure to take him/her to the vet for a full examination first. This way the new cat will not unknowingly pass any diseases to your current pets
