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Name
Tapeworms, Feline
Short Description
Cestodes -- including Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniaformis,
Taenia pisiformis, Taenia hydratigena, and Echinococcus
multilocularis.
Affected Animals: Dogs and cats of any age, sex, or breed. Although
uncommon, cats potentially can spread Echinococcus eggs to a human,
making him or her a host that harbors the parasite. A fluid filled
sac containing the tapeworm larva can develop in the liver, lung, or
other organ of the person -- this can lead to illness and possibly
even death.
Overview:
An intestinal parasite frequently found in
felines, tapeworms infect a cat when it ingests a host such as a
rodent, a rabbit, or an adult flea harboring infective tapeworm
larvae. There are two common types of tapeworms in the United
States: Taenia, which comes from rodents or rabbits, and Dipylidium,
which is transmitted by fleas. Dipylidium caninum and Taenia
taeniaformis are the tapeworms found most commonly in cats.
Cats with adult tapeworms release a proglottid -- a mature body
segment from the tail end of a tapeworm containing eggs -- into the
digestive tract. These segments can be noted on the fur around the
anus or in the feces. Tapeworms occasionally irritate a cat's rear
end and cause itching, but generally do not pose a severe health
risk to the animal. Underweight cats and young kittens can lose
valuable nutrients to tapeworms and fail to gain weight. Medications
are available that effectively eliminate the parasite, although they
can become reinfected quickly if preventive measures are not
initiated.
Clinical Signs: Single proglottid or chain seen in feces or
pasted to perianal area; animal may have perianal pruritus.
Symptoms: Individual body segment of the tapeworm, called a
proglottid, noted in the cat's feces or stuck in the fur around the
anus. The cat may drag or lick its rear end often.
Description:
Tapeworms infect the small intestine of cats and
release proglottids, or tapeworm body segments. The proglottids
travel through the intestinal tract and out of the body into the
feces. Cats also can release tapeworm segments when they are relaxed
or asleep. Cats get tapeworms from ingesting rodents, rabbits, or
adult fleas. Generally, tapeworms do not compromise a cat's health
greatly, although especially thin cats and kittens can lose needed
nutrients due to an infection.
There are two common species of the tapeworm parasite that effect
cats in the United States: Taenia, which comes from ingesting a
rodent or rabbit, and Dipylidium, transmitted when a cat eats an
adult flea. Cats can swallow a flea accidentally when grooming
themselves.
Both types of tapeworms are treatable with medication from the
examining veterinarian. Reinfection of tapeworms will occur as early
as two to three weeks after treatment if fleas are not eliminated or
the animal continues to hunt.
Diagnosis: A tapeworm infection can be diagnosed easily by
collecting a tapeworm segment from the cat. A veterinarian may
perform a test on the proglottid to determine the species of the
tapeworm. Proglottids do not show up commonly on a routine fecal
floatation exam because they are too heavy to float. The cat also
should be examined for fleas.
Prognosis: Good if treated and fleas are controlled.
Transmission or Cause: Cats get tapeworms from ingesting the internal
organs of a rodent or rabbit or from eating an adult flea carrying
the parasite.
Treatment: Although dewormers available over the counter are
not effective, there are prescription medications that will
eliminate tapeworm infections. Flea control should be instituted to
avoid recurrence of the infection of Dipylidium caninum.
Prevention: Measures to control fleas on the cat and in the
environment should be undertaken. Hunting behavior should be
discouraged. To avoid human infection with Echinococcus, humans
should wear gloves when gardening, cover childrens' outdoor
sandboxes, and wash their hands well after cleaning the litter box
or working in soil.
