Occurrence and Risk Factors Associated with Infection in Cats with Elevated Liver Enzymes

Overview

Journal Animals (Basel)

Date 2024 Apr 13

PMID 38612303

Authors

Pinkarn Chantawong

Jiraporn Potiwong

Natchanon Choochote

Kakanang Piyarungsri

Chakorn Kunkaew

Sahatchai Tangtrongsup

Saruda Tiwananthagorn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

spp., a hepatic trematode, causes fatal hepatobiliary disease in cats. Feline platynosomiasis is often underestimated due to a lack of awareness and diagnostic challenges. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, factors, and clinicopathological abnormalities associated with spp. infection in cats with elevated serum ALT levels. infection was determined using zinc sulfate flotation and formalin-ether sedimentation. DNA sequence analysis of PCR products from the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region and gene was used to identify species. Of a total of 43 cat fecal samples, the proportion of spp. infection by microscopic examination was 11.63% (5/43). All PCR-positive samples were molecularly identified as . From the logistic regression analysis, the odds of infection in cats without a deworming program were 16 times higher than those of regularly dewormed cats. Demographic data, housing conditions, and predatory behavior were not significantly associated with the infection. Regarding blood profiles, infected cats had higher eosinophil counts ( = 0.014), with no significant differences in ALT ( = 0.791) or ALP ( = 0.970) levels compared to non-infected cats. Our findings demonstrate that eosinophilia in cats with increased serum ALT may suggest infection in endemic areas. We strongly recommend a regular deworming program to mitigate the risk of infection.

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