U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Fayer, Ronalditem
                                            Santin-Duran, Monicaitem
                                            Trout, Jamesitem
                                            Dubey, Jitender
  Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2006
                                    Publication  Date: 8/3/2006
                                    Citation: Fayer, R., Santin, M., Trout, J.M., Dubey, J.P. 2006. Outbreak of Cryptosporidium felis and Giardia duodenalis Assemblage F in a cat colony. Veterinary Parasitology. 140:44-53.Interpretive Summary: This report is the first recorded outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in a group of cats. Cats were housed in a clean research facility, received fresh food and water daily, and litter pans were cleaned daily. Over a 22 day period all 18 cats housed in the same room but in separate cages excreted oocysts of Cryptosporidium felis, a parasite infectious for humans. During the course of infection 8 cats also excreted Giardia duodenalis Assemblage F, a parasite known only to infect cats. All cats appeared to have good appetites and none had diarrhea or other signs of illness. Because C. felis is zoonotic these findings suggest that care should be taken by veterinary health care providers and others in close contact with cats, even when cats appear healthy and asymptomatic.
                                Technical Abstract: Eighteen cats, 3 to 6 mo of age, bred and housed in a closed colony, were transferred from that colony and placed in separate stainless steel cages in a building designed for housing animals. At daily intervals, feces were collected from the litter pans in each cage, cages were cleaned, and fresh food and water were provided.  Beginning 4 weeks after the transfer, oocysts of Cryptosporidium felis, a zoonotic parasite primarily infecting cats, were detected in the feces of two cats. For the following 21 days, with minor exceptions, feces from each cat were collected daily and examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Feces from every cat were also examined by molecular methods that included DNA extraction, 18S rDNA gene amplification, and DNA sequence analysis.  Within those 22 days every cat became infected with Cryptosporidium felis and excreted oocysts for 6 to 18 days. Although Cryptosporidium spp. has been reported in cats worldwide, this is the first report of a spontaneous outbreak among a large number of cats.  Eight of these 18 cats also excreted cysts of Giardia duodenalis assemblage F, a genotype reported only in cats. Six Giardia infections were concurrent during part of the patency with C. felis infections. All cats appeared healthy and asymptomatic. Neither diarrhea nor other signs of illness were observed in any of the cats during this time. Because C. felis is zoonotic these findings suggest that care should be taken by veterinary health care providers and others in close contact with cats, even when cats appear healthy and asymptomatic.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov