Coccidiosis (Feline)

Coccidia are protozoan parasites that affect the gastrointestinal tract of cats, dogs and many other animals.

Infection is often mild and asymptomatic, but can be debilitating and severe in neonatal animals, or those with compromised immune systems.

Common name: Coccidia Scientific name: Coccidiosis

Diagnosis

Signalment Although all dogs and cats are susceptible to coccidia, the infection is most severe in very young animals (less than one month), and in animals that are immunocompromised.

Incidence/prevalence Coccidiosis is extremely common, but due to the generally mild nature of the disease, incidence and prevalence are not well studied.

Geographic distribution Geographic distribution of coccidia iis worldwide, wherever dogs and cats are found.

Clinical signs (primary most to least frequent, scientific term, synonyms) Often none, watery diarrhea, sometimes bloody.

Cause (scientific, common term) Various species of the genus Isospora infect dogs and cats, notably Isospora canis and Isospora felis. Coccidia is a term referring to many similar genera.

Organ systems affected (most to least affected) Small intestines, extraintestinal tissue, diagnostic tests, oocysts identified with routine fecal floatation exams.

Differential diagnosis Diarrhea from other causes: viral, bacterial or dietary.

Overview

Coccidia are parasites that live within the cells of a wide variety of domesticated species, typically inhabiting the intestines where they may cause diarrhea. Coccidia are largely host specific, meaning cat coccidians do not infect dogs and vice-versa, although each animal can be infected by several distinct species of coccidia. Infection is extremely common, but can be subclinical (showing no signs of illness) in healthy adult animals, and can be an incidental finding on fecal exams. Puppies and kittens less than one month and individuals with compromised immune systems can have severe disease with watery or bloody diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting or even death.

The life cycle of coccidian is quite complicated. Oocysts, which are the life stage that is stable in the environment, are ingested by the dog or cat directly, or by an intermediate host (e.g. mouse) where the parasites develop partially, then form dormant tissue cysts. If a cat or dog then consumes the intermediate host, the coccidia can complete their life cycle. Once inside the cat or dog, the coccidia go through several stages of division within intestinal cells, ultimately causing them to rupture. New oocysts are produced and shed in the feces, completing the coccidian life-cycle. Dogs and cats can have relapses of coccidiosis from parasites that encyst within tissue outside of their intestines and re-emerge during times of stress to produce active disease.

Treatment

Home Care

Many infections are mild and self-limiting, with minimal supportive care being all that is required, but if signs of dehydration occur or the diarrhea lasts more than a few days, a trip to a veterinarian is recommended.

Professional Care

When serious enough to require treatment, coccidia is usually treated on an outpatient basis with sulfadimethoxine (Albon), a drug that interferes with the coccidian life cycle enough to allow the immune system to clear the infection. It is important to note that a functional immune system is still required for the therapy to be effective. Treatment failures may point to a defective immune response. Newer treatments, such as the equine drug ponazuril (Marquis) are gaining popularity to treat coccidia, but are not currently licensed for use in dogs and cats. Ponazuril has the advantage of a shorter course of therapy because it actually kills the coccidia directly.

In very severe cases of coccidiosis hospitalization may be required for rehydration and supportive care. Underlying diseases often accompany these extreme cases in adult animals.

Action

Supportive care and anti-protozoal drugs are the hallmarks of treatment for coccidiosis and are usually all that is required. Swift recognition and treatment of the disease for neonatal animals is important to avoid life-threatening dehydration.

Coccidia is often associated with unsanitary conditions where fecal-oral contamination is possible, so basic sanitation should be practiced at all times especially in crowded environments like kennels or catteries.

Outcome

In the vast majority of cases, coccidiosis is mild disease with a good prognosis.

References/Additional Readings Dubey J.P. and Greene, C.E. In: Greene, C.E., ed. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 3rd edition. St.Louis: Saunders, 2006; 775-783.

Ettinger, Stephen J. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 4th edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1995; 385.

Author Colin Dwyer, DVM

Editor Sharon Gwaltney-Brant DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT