Section: Overview
Protozoal infections are disorders caused by a variety of different organisms affecting multiple systems, causing a variety of many different signs and diseases.
General Causes
Giardiasis caused by Giardia species
Trichomoniasis caused by Pentatrichomonas hominis
Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica
Balantidiasis caused by Balantidium coli
Coccidiosis caused by Cystoisospora (most commonly)
Cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum
Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii
Acanthamebiasis caused by Acanthamoeba species
Babesiosis caused by Babesia species
Cytauxzoonosis caused by Cytauxzoon felis
Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania species
Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
Hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis
Encephalitozoonosis caused by Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Pneumocystosis caused by Pneumocystis carinii
Neosporosis caused by Neospora caninum
What to Watch For
Due to the many different organisms with a variety of effects on the individual, multiple signs are seen, depending on the particular organism.
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Depression
Yellow color
Enlarged lymph nodes
Seizures
Muscle spasm
Paralysis
Blindness
Diagnosis
Baseline tests include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis. Changes are variable, depending on the organ system(s) involved. Additional tests include:
Fecal evaluations
Chest and abdominal X-rays
Serologic testing
Direct organism identification, if possible, either via aspirate (removing and evaluating cells) or biopsy (evaluation of tissue)
Treatment
Depending on the specific protozoan organism, therapeutic recommendations will vary. Intensive supportive care may be indicated in some cases, such as fluids and blood transfusions. Depending on the protozoa, specific antibiotics and specific deworming agents may be necessary.
Home Care and Prevention
Administer all medication as directed by your veterinarian. Contact your veterinarian at once if your pet is not responding to therapy and/or getting worse. Return for follow up examination and testing as recommended by your veterinarian.
Prohibiting exposure to infected individuals can help prevent infection. Sanitation is important and avoiding contact with the intermediate host is important in prevention.
