Abstract
BackgroundOn St. Kitts, a high number of cats are found to be infected with Trichuris. Necropsies have shown pathologic changes related to the infections. In order to determine if these changes were related to a particular Trichuris species, a review of the original identifications of Trichuris campanula and Trichuris serrata was conducted.FindingsBased on the review of published descriptions of T. campanula and T. serrata, it is hypothesized that the presence or absence of a vulvar projection and a bacillary band can be used to differentiate the two species and these criteria are more accurate than nematode or egg size. The Trichuris in cats on St. Kitts were similar in size to the description of T. campanula, but had both a vulvar projection and bacillary band.ConclusionsBased on the morphological characteristics, all of the Trichuris found in twelve domestic cats were determined to be T. serrata. Cats without pathologic changes are required to further investigate if the changes are species or strain related.
Highlights
Two species of Trichuris in domestic cats, Trichuris serrata and Trichuris campanula, were originally described by von Linstow 1879, 1889, respectively
Based on the morphological characteristics, all of the Trichuris found in twelve domestic cats were determined to be T. serrata
The number of worms used in these original descriptions, isolated from cats in Brazil, was limited and no whole male was available for T. campanula
Summary
Two species of Trichuris in domestic cats, Trichuris serrata and Trichuris campanula, were originally described by von Linstow 1879, 1889, respectively. Since the identification by Clarkson and Owen (1960), feline Trichuris identification often has been based on egg or adult size, by referencing the description provided by Clarkson and Owen, and with no mention in regard to a vulvar projection or the bacillary band (Hass and Meisels 1978; Beldomenico et al 2005). The exception to this is the identification by Kelly (1973) and Ng and.
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