Roundworm infection in cats is a common occurrence, especially if the cat is allowed to roam outside. Most of the time, roundworm infections present subclinically, meaning that there are no obvious signs of infection, unless the worm load is large or the cat has an underlying health concern. Cats that carry roundworms risk infecting their owners by shedding eggs that become infective larvae. Roundworm infections cause blindness, and other organ damage due to the migration of the infective larvae and the damage that it caused is irreversible.
-
History
-
Cats are one of the many mammalian primary hosts to the parasite commonly known as the roundworm. Cats that are allowed to roam outdoors have a greater potential for coming in contact with infective larvae as the intermediate hosts include rats as well as contaminated soil and feces of infected cats, though indoor cats can become infected if infective larvae are brought indoors on the shoes of the owner.
Symptoms of Infection
-
Cats who have been infected with roundworms usually show little indication that they are infected if the worm load is low, though some common clinical symptoms that can manifest are: swollen "pot belly" like stomachs, vomiting (with or without evidence of worms) diarrhea (with or without evidence of worms), and lethargy. Cats are routinely tested for the presence of roundworm eggs in their stool during their annual veterinary examination and are generally treated with a broad spectrum dewormer whether there is evidence of an infection or not.
Isolation
-
A cat that has been treated for roundworm infection, regardless of confirmation of infection, should be kept isolated from other cats for:
• As long as it takes to stop passing adult roundworms.
• Up to one week if there is no evidence of passing worms.
A follow-up fecal floatation should be conducted a few days after the above timeframes have been observed to confirm that there are no eggs being passed in the feces of the treated cat.
Considerations
-
Special care should be taken when changing the litter pan of a cat that is being treated for roundworm infection to reduce the chance of accidental infection. Latex gloves should be worn at all times when handling the litter, the pan, or removing the feces. The litter should be changed daily. And when the cat has been cleared, the entire isolation area should be cleaned with a bleach solution to kill any remaining larvae, eggs or bacteria.
Warning
-
Special care should be taken when housing cats with active roundworm infections, or that are receiving treatment with small children. There is an increased chance of accidental infection with smaller children as there is a greater tendency to put their hands in their mouths after exploring potentially contaminated areas. It is paramount to be diligent in cleaning any potentially affected areas with a bleach solution to eradicate any infective larvae from the area.
-