Tritrichomonas foetus from domestic cats and cattle are genetically distinct

Šlapeta, Jan; Craig, Simon; McDonell, Denise; Emery, D.L.

doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2010.04.024

Cited by 59 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Tritrichomonas foetus, a trichomonad causing similar pathology, is a venereal pathogen of cattle and can result in considerable reproductive and economic losses in infected herds. Recently, a trichomonad highly similar to bovine venereal T. foetus but having a unique tropism for the intestinal tract was recognized as a significant cause of diarrhea in domestic cats (3)(4)(5)(6). This same organism is also documented in the colon of pigs (7,8).…”

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confidence: 87%

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

et al. 2014

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bTrichomonads are obligate protozoan parasites most renowned as venereal pathogens of the reproductive tract of humans and cattle. Recently, a trichomonad highly similar to bovine venereal Tritrichomonas foetus but having a unique tropism for the intestinal tract was recognized as a significant cause of colitis in domestic cats. Despite a high prevalence, worldwide distribution, and lack of consistently effective drugs for treatment of the infection, the cellular mechanisms of T. foetus pathogenicity in the intestinal tract have not been examined. The aims of this study were to determine the pathogenic effect of feline T. foetus on porcine intestinal epithelial cells, the dependence of T. foetus pathogenicity on adhesion of T. foetus to the intestinal epithelium, and the identity of mediators responsible for these effects. Using an in vitro coculture approach to model feline T. foetus infection of the intestinal epithelium, these studies demonstrate that T. foetus promotes a direct contact-dependent activation of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis signaling and progressive monolayer destruction. Moreover, these pathological effects were demonstrated to be largely dependent on T. foetus cell-associated cysteine protease activity. Finally, T. foetus cysteine proteases were identified as enabling cytopathic effects by promoting adhesion of T. foetus to the intestinal epithelium. The present studies are the first to examine the cellular mechanisms of pathogenicity of T. foetus toward the intestinal epithelium and support further investigation of the cysteine proteases as virulence factors in vivo and as potential therapeutic targets for ameliorating the pathological effects of intestinal trichomonosis.

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confidence: 87%

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

et al. 2014

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“…However, recent studies unambiguously demonstrated that feline and bovine T. foetus exhibit conserved genetic differences (Reinmann et al, 2012;Slapeta et al, 2010Slapeta et al, , 2012Sun et al, 2012), thus suggesting different host tropism (Slapeta et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tritrichomonas foetus: Prevalence study in naturally mating bulls in Switzerland

Bernasconi

Bodmer

Doherr

et al. 2014

Veterinary Parasitology

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Switzerland is officially free from bovine Tritrichomonas foetus. While bulls used for artificial insemination (AI) are routinely examined for this pathogen, bulls engaged in natural mating, as well as aborted fetuses, are only very sporadically investigated, indicating that the disease awareness for bovine tritrichomoniasis is low. Natural mating in cattle is becoming increasingly popular in Switzerland. Accordingly, a re-introduction/re-occurrence of T. foetus in cattle seems possible either via resurgence from a yet unknown bovine reservoir, or via importation of infected cattle. The low disease awareness for bovine tritrichomoniasis might favor an unnoticed re-establishment of T. foetus in the Swiss cattle population. The aim of our study was thus to search for the parasite, and if found, to assess the prevalence of bovine T. foetus in Switzerland. We included (1) bulls over two years of age used in natural mating and sent to slaughter, (2) bulls used for natural service in herds with or without fertility problems and (3) aborted fetuses. Furthermore, the routinely examined bulls used for AI (4) were included in this study. In total, 1362 preputial samples from bulls and 60 abomasal fluid samples of aborted fetuses were analyzed for the presence of T. foetus by both in vitro cultivation and molecular analyses. The parasite could not be detected in any of the samples, indicating that the maximal prevalence possibly missed was about 0.3% (95% confidence). Interestingly, in preputial samples of three bulls of category 1, apathogenic Tetratrichomonas sp. was identified, documenting a proof-of-principle for the methodology used in this study.

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“…The origin of feline T. foetus is unknown. Although initially it was believed that T. foetus isolates from cats were identical to the ones causing disease in cattle, recent evidence suggests that the isolates from those two animal species are genetically distinct (Slapeta et al 2010). There is currently no evidence that feline T. foetus originated from cattle (Stockdale et al 2007, Slapeta et al 2010.…”

Section: Etiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tritrichomonas foetus: a new cause of diarrhea in cats in Greece

Xenoulis¹

2017

J Hellenic Vet Med Soc

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ABSTRACT.Over the past few years, the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus (T foetus) has emerged as a new and important cause of feline diarrhea in the international veterinary community. In a recent study, the presence of T. foetus was confirmed for the first time in cats in Greece. The protozoan parasite Τ foetus has been primarily known as a cause of trichomoniasis in cattle. In this animal species, the parasite affects the reproductive system of both males and females and is associated with infertility and other reproductive problems. It was first described as a cause of feline diarrhea in 2003 in the United States. Since then, feline Τ foetus -associated diarrhea has been reported in many countries around the world and, recently, it was, also, described in cats in Greece. The trophozoites of the parasite are excreted in the feces and healthy cats are infected with the ingestion of T. foetus trophozoites. Τ foetus affects mainly the colon and the last part of the small intestine. Τ /oeto-associated diarrhea occurs mainly in young cats, but cats of any age can be infected and develop clinical signs. The main clinical sign is diarrhea, which may contain mucus or blood, and it often has spontaneous remissions and exacerbations. General clinical sings such as anorexia, weight loss and fever occur less frequently. If left untreated, the diarrhea often persists for months or years. In some cats, the clinical signs eventually resolve without treatment, but this can take up to 2 years. Moreover, these animals usually remain infected and are a source of infection for other cats (or humans) and often the clinical signs relapse in situations of stress. Feline Τ foetus infection can be diagnosed mainly by: a) microscopic examination of fecal samples, b) fecal culture specific for Τ foetus and c) fecal PCR. None of the above methods is diagnostic in 100% of cases and, therefore, these methods should be used in combination and bearing in mind the disadvantages of each method. Most antiparasitic and antibiotic drugs are not effective in treating diarrhea caused by T. foetus . Transient improvement can be seen with the use of common antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs, but the clinical signs typically recur with discontinuation of treatment. The only drug with proven efficacy against T. foetus in cats is ronidazol, which is usually used at a dose of 30 mg/kg, orally every 24 hours for 14 days. In some cases, the clinical sings recur with discontinuation of treatment but they usually resolve after one additional treatment cycle. The most serious side effect of ronidazole in cats is the development of neurological signs, but those usually resolve with discontinuation of treatment. Finally, T. foetus may be transmitted to humans, although this has not been proven. Keywords 133συγκεκριμένου παρασίτου επιβεβαιώθηκε για πρώτη φορά και στην Ελλάδα. Το πρωτόζωο παράσιτο T. foetus είναι κυρίως γνωστό ως το αίτιο της τριχομόνωσης των βοοειδών. Στο ζωικό αυτό είδος, το παράσιτο προσβάλλει το γεννητικό σύστημα τόσο των αρσενικών ό...

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Tritrichomonas foetus from domestic cats and cattle are genetically distinct

Cited by 59 publications

References 18 publications

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Cysteine Protease Activity of Feline Tritrichomonas foetus Promotes Adhesion-Dependent Cytotoxicity to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Tritrichomonas foetus: Prevalence study in naturally mating bulls in Switzerland

Tritrichomonas foetus: a new cause of diarrhea in cats in Greece

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