Concurrent infection of Taenia taeniaeformis and Isospora felis in a stray kitten: a case report

Abstract

The present report describes a unique case of acute diarrhoea, dehydration and weakness in a stray female kitten due to concurrent infection of <i>Taenia taeniaeformis</i> and <i>Isospora felis</i>. Death occured before any treatment could be attempted and postmortem examination revealed the presence of live tapeworms embedded in the mucosa of the small intestine. The tapeworms were identified as <i>Taenia taeniaeformis</i> by Scanning Electron and Light microscopy. The uterus of the tapeworms was filled with eggs. The intestinal contents were yellow in colour and upon their examination by faecal floatation the presence of <i>Isospora</i> oocysts was revealed. On histopathological examination, necrotic enteritis along with endogenous tissue stages of <i>Isospora</i> spp. were observed in the intestine. The other cats in the area were found to pass eggs and/or gravid segments of <i>T. taeniaeformis</i> in their faeces. Infection with the metacestodes (<i>Cysticercus fasciolaris</i>) of this indirectly transmitted parasite was found in the liver of the intermediate hosts, i.e., the wild rats <i>Bandicota bengalensis</i>.