Updated 1/9/2008
On Jan 9. 2008, Dr Gookin and myself released to the public the second edition of a paper we co-authored on Tritrichomonas foetus (TF). This paper was written to be a guide to those who wanted to learn about this parasite, to learn how to test for it and to learn how to treat cats infected with it. As for the first edition we mutually agreed that Dr Gookin's webpage would be the single source of TF information. Not only is this appropriate, since she is the leading TF researcher, but it easily allows us to keep the information current with any new discoveries.
This guide is downloadable from Dr Gookin's webpage and is free for individual use. The link to the guide is in the list of links (mid-page). Permission is not granted to post this guide as a document on any website. A link to the Dr Gookin's webpage (http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/personnel/gookin_jody.html) may be posted. If you have any questions or comments: contact us
Since most of the TF information that was on this page is redundant with the information contained in the guide it has been removed. I will however keep on this webpage TF information that is specific to our cattery.
Our TF History: We first learned about TF in late January 2006. The symptoms of this parasite matched some of the symptoms we were seeing in some of our Abys. We purchased the equipment and tests required to detect TF and began testing in February. We found TF in 10 of our Abys (8 adults and 2 kittens). Working with our vet we have treated our Abys and are now regularly testing to insure our Abys are TF free.
Current TF Status: We are continuing to assist, where possible, in furthering the understanding of this parasite. Unfortunately because we have pledged to keep some of this work confidential we can't at this time divulge details. We have also have shared our knowledge with 100+ breeders and pet owners.
Since our initial TF test we have performed 250 TF tests. Our females have continued to test negative for 17 months and the kittens they have produced have also tested negative.
Two intact males and one neuter male have failed treatment and are still infected. The two intact males had their diarrhea resolved by their first ronidazole treatment and have not had a reoccurence of loose stools in the past 17 months. However they still carry the TF organism.
One of these males seems to be shedding fewer and fewer TF organisms. Tests using letterbox fecal samples have returned negative results. Tests using samples obtained with a fecal loop have returned positive results. This suggests that when asymptomatic adults are tested, greater testing accuracy may be obtained with samples taken directly from the colon.
Tests of the TF obtain from one of these intact males show that the strain of TF they carry is more resistive to the current drug treatment (Ronidazole).
The neuter has been given to a person who understands his condition and is giving him a good home. He is now in sunny Az.
We have brought in another intact male that was one of our kittens. He has come from a breeder who has decided to stop breeding Abys and to concentrate on another breed. He has tested positive for TF. Whether he was infected with TF when he left us as a kitten three years ago or became infected since is impossible to determine since TF is so widespread. This male has been treated with ronidazole and has responded to treatment. Currently after 3 post treatment InPouchTF tests he remains negative for TF.
Following up on the matings. We have mated TF negative females to some of our TF positive males. Matings were performed in a very controlled environment. The females continue to test negative and none have symptoms of this disease.
In case of concern it should be noted that these males have been isolated so they do not pose a threat of infection to our other Abys and the females used to breed to them are isolated until multiple TF tests are performed
It is interesting to note that in the 10 years we have been breeding we have never seen such consistently firm stool as we have since we tested and treated for TF. With the benefit of hindsight we suspect that TF has been present in our cattery (and like most all catteries) to varying degrees for many years.
