Protozoal infections Flashcards
What are the most common signs of enteric protozoal infections?
vomiting, inappetence, or diarrhea
Which of the enteric protozoan are potentially zoonotic?
Cryptosporidium
T. gondii
Giardia
E. histolytica (extremely uncommon)
B. coli (extremely uncommon)
What are the clinical signs of hepatozoonosis?
- most common in puppies
- fever, weight loss, severe hyperesthesia over the paraspinal region
- neutrophilic leukocytosis, L shift, normocytic, normochromic non regenerative anemia
How is hepatozoonosis treated?
- there are no effective treatments to eliminate the infection from tissues
- TMS, pyrimethamine, clindamycin
- tick control
What are the clinical signs of neosporosis?
- infects the neuromuscular tissues
- congenitally affected puppies: ascending paralysis with hyper-extension of the hind limbs, muscle atrophy
- no report of natural infection in cats
How is neosporosis transmitted?
- eggs in feces
- tranplacentally
What’s the prognosis of neosporosis?
- neurogenically form = extremely grave
- can try TMS, pyrimethamine, clindamycin
- zoonotic link = unclear
What’s the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis?
- only cats complete the coccidian life cycle
- from ingestion of infected feces
zoonotic!
What are the clinical signs of toxoplasmosis?
- systemic signs, death is possible
- liver, lungs, and pancreas commonly involved
- chronic form: uveitis, fever, muscle hyperesthesia, weight loss, anorexia, seizures, ataxia, icterus, diarrhea, cutaneous disease, and pancreatitis
- dogs: respiratory, GI, and neuro infections = most common –> fever, v/d. dyspnea, cutaneous disease, icterus
How is toxoplasmosis diagnosed?
- antibody detection (will be positive for life)
- PCR
How is toxoplasmosis treated?
clindamycin
TMS
azithromycin
What are the clinical signs due to leishmaniasis?
- skin: nodular, ulcerative lesion on the ear pinna or muzzle
- dogs = visceral infection is most common -> weight loss, normal to increased appetite, Pu/PD, muscle wasting, depression, v/d, cough, epistaxis, sneezing and melena
- splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, facial alopecia, fever, rhinitis, dermatitis, changes in lung sounds, icterus, swollen painful joints, uveitis, and conjunctivitis
What are some lab abnormalities for leishmaniasis in dogs?
hyperglobulinemia
hypoproteinemia
proteinuria
increased liver enzymes
thrombocytopenia
azotemia
lymphocytosis with L shift
How is leishmaniasis diagnosed?
antibody detection
How is leishmaniasis treated?
no antibody can effectively eliminate tissue infection
- antimony and allopurinol
- control sandflies
