Protozoa in Small Animals

Question 1

What is the most common Giardia spp. in dogs?

Answer 1

G. duodenalis

Question 2

What are clinical signs of Giardia?

Answer 2

Sometimes none, D+/colitis, wt loss/anorexia rare

Question 3

What is the route of transmission of Giardia?

Answer 3

Fecal-oral ingestion of cyst

Question 4

Where do Giardia cysts live in the environment?

Answer 4

Contaminated water/feces

Question 5

Does Giardia have an intermediate host?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

How do you dx Giardia?

Answer 6

Direct smear w/saline, fecal float w/centrifugation, ELISA, PCR

Question 7

What features of Giardia make diagnosis difficult?

Answer 7

Intermittent shedding

Question 8

How do you treat Giardia in dogs and cats?

Answer 8

No approved treatment, Fenbendazole, Metronidazole, or both

Question 9

Is Giardia zoonotic?

Answer 9

Zoonotic risk not established

Question 10

What organisms cause Coccidiosis?

Answer 10

Eimeria spp. and Isospora spp.

Question 11

Which coccidia is considered a pseudoparasite in dogs/cats?

Answer 11

Eimeria

Question 12

Which Isospora spp. affect cats?

Answer 12

C. felis/rivolta

Question 13

Which Isospora spp affect dogs?

Answer 13

C. canis/ohioensis/neorivolta/burrowsi

Question 14

Are canine and feline coccidia zoonotic to humans?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

What are clinical signs of coccidiosis?

Answer 15

D+/colitis, wt loss and dehydration in young animals

Question 16

How are coccidia transmitted?

Answer 16

Ingestion of infective sporulated oocysts from env., ingestion of infected transport hosts

Question 17

How do you dx coccidia?

Answer 17

Fecal float

Question 18

How do you treat coccida?

Answer 18

Sulfadimethoxine (approved); Ponazuril, TMPS (other)

Question 19

What is the most common feline tritrichomonas infection?

Answer 19

T. blagburni (formerly T. foetus)

Question 20

Is feline Tritrichomonas zoonotic to humans?

Answer 20

No

Question 21

Where in the cat does T. foetus live?

Answer 21

Colon and cecum

Question 22

What is the route of transmission of T. foetus?

Answer 22

Fecal-oral

Question 23

What are clinical signs of T. foetus?

Answer 23

Chronic and intermittent D+

Question 24

How do you dx T. foetus?

Answer 24

Direct fecal smear, PCR, culture

Question 25

What type of movement does T. foetus have on a fecal smear?

Answer 25

Jerky and radnom

Question 26

What type of movement does Giardia have on fecal smear?

Answer 26

"Falling leaf"

Question 27

How do you treat T. foetus?

Answer 27

Ronidazole

Question 28

What is a possible side effect of Ronidazole?

Answer 28

Neurotoxicity

Question 29

What is the definitive host of Toxoplasmosis gondii?

Answer 29

Cats

Question 30

How is T. gondii transmitted?

Answer 30

Acquired via ingestion of oocytes or bradyzoites | Congenital via transplacental/mammary passage of tachyzoites

Question 31

How do you dx T. gondii?

Answer 31

Fecal float for oocysts, IFA, ELISA, PCR

Question 32

How can IFA and ELISA tell you if there is an active T. gondii infection?

Answer 32

Rise in IgG over 2-3wk | High IgM

Question 33

What is the treatment of choice for T. gondii?

Answer 33

Clindamycin

Question 34

Is T. gondii zoonotic?

Answer 34

Yes, serious risk causing congenital defects

Question 35

What is the definitive host of Neospora caninum?

Answer 35

Dogs

Question 36

What are modes of N. caninum transmission?

Answer 36

Acquired via ingestion of oocysts or cattle tissue w/bradyzoites Congenital via tranplacental passage of tachyzoites

Question 37

What do young dogs infected with N. caninum usually present with?

Answer 37

Ascending paralysis

Question 38

What are clinical signs of N. caninum in older dogs?

Answer 38

Neuro, resp, and/or derm signs

Question 39

How do you dx N. caninum?

Answer 39

Fecal float for oocysts, IFA, direct agglutination, ELISA, PCR

Question 40

How do you treat N. caninum?

Answer 40

Clindamycin, TMPS + pyrimethamine

Question 41

How long do you treat for N. caninum?

Answer 41

4+ weeks

Question 42

Which Cryptosporidium specie affects dogs?

Answer 42

C. canis

Question 43

Which Cryptosporidium specie affects cats?

Answer 43

C. felis

Question 44

How is Crypto transmitted?

Answer 44

Fecal oral via sporulated oocysts

Question 45

How do you dx Crypto?

Answer 45

Fecal float and direct smear, ELISA, IFA

Question 46

How do you treat Crypto?

Answer 46

Nitazoxanide (Alinia), Tylosin, Azithromycin

Question 47

Pear shaped binulceate organism

Answer 47

Giardia

Question 48

How many nuclei does Tritrichomonas foetus have?

Answer 48

One