Tolbert Mary Katherine, Gookin Jody
North Carolina State University, USA
Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2009 Aug;31(8):374-81, 390; quiz 381.
Tritrichomonas foetus is a single-celled, flagellated protozoal parasite that colonizes the feline colon and distal ileum. Infected cats may be asymptomatic or may have clinical signs that include malodorous large bowel diarrhea. T. foetus infection is common in, but not limited to, high-density populations of young, purebred cats. Testing for this parasite is still not routine at most veterinary clinics, and T. foetus is often misdiagnosed as Giardia spp. T. foetus-specific tests (fecal culture and polymerase chain reaction) should be considered in cats with large bowel diarrhea, especially those in which traditional diagnostics and treatments for other causes of feline large bowel diarrhea have failed to reach a clinical resolution. Recognition of this newly emerging disease and appropriate sample handling are critical for the detection and treatment of feline trichomoniasis.
胎儿三毛滴虫是一种单细胞、有鞭毛的原生动物寄生虫，寄生于猫的结肠和回肠末端。受感染的猫可能没有症状，也可能出现包括恶臭的大肠腹泻在内的临床症状。胎儿三毛滴虫感染在年轻纯种猫的高密度群体中很常见，但不限于此类群体。在大多数兽医诊所，对这种寄生虫的检测仍非常规操作，胎儿三毛滴虫常被误诊为贾第虫属。对于患有大肠腹泻的猫，尤其是那些针对猫大肠腹泻其他病因的传统诊断和治疗未能取得临床缓解的猫，应考虑进行胎儿三毛滴虫特异性检测（粪便培养和聚合酶链反应）。认识这种新出现的疾病并进行适当的样本处理对于猫滴虫病的检测和治疗至关重要。
