Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prevalence of potentially pathogenic enteric organisms in clinically healthy kittens in the UK.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Gow, Adam G et al.
- Affiliation:
- Hospital for Small Animals · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Researchers in the UK collected stool samples from 57 healthy kittens that were getting their first vaccinations. They found some potentially harmful bacteria: one kitten had Salmonella and five had Campylobacter, with four more kittens testing positive for Campylobacter using a special test. They also discovered Toxocara (a type of roundworm) eggs in nine kittens, including four that had already been treated for worms, and Isospora (a type of protozoan) in four kittens. While no Giardia or Cryptosporidium (other types of parasites) were found in the routine tests, a specific test for Giardia showed positive results in three kittens. Overall, 19 kittens had harmful organisms detected through standard methods, and 26 kittens (about 45%) tested positive using all methods combined. This suggests that finding these organisms in kittens with stomach issues might not always mean they are the cause of the problems.
Abstract
Faecal samples were collected from 57 clinically healthy kittens presented for initial vaccination, in the UK. Routine bacteriological examination identified Salmonella species in one and Campylobacter species in five samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected the presence of Campylobacter species in a further four samples. Routine parasitological examination revealed Toxocara species ova in nine (including four kittens stated to have been administered an anthelmintic) and Isospora species in four samples. No Giardia or Cryptosporidium species were detected by routine methods. A Giardia species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit designed for use in cats was positive in three kittens. A similar test kit designed for use in humans was negative in all samples and produced negative results even when known positive samples were tested. Potentially pathogenic enteric organisms were detected in 19 kittens by routine methods and 26 (prevalence 45%) by all methods. The high prevalence in asymptomatic kittens highlights the possibility that the detection of these organisms in kittens with gastrointestinal disease may be an incidental finding.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19249233/