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Paragonimus Kellicotti: Lung Fluke
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Recently, two Folsom Feline Rescue foster cats came down with lung fluke, a parasite that lives in the lungs of animals. The first cat's symptoms went unrecognized and did not survive, but the second was able to be saved.
The lung fluke eggs hatch in water, then the parasite penetrates itself into a snail. Once they mature, they leave the snail and penetrate into a crayfish. Carnivores, including cats, dogs,
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and raccoons, eat the crayfish and the lung fluke makes its way from the digestive track into the lungs of the animal. The adult lung fluke are up to 16 mm long, and usually pair up (male and female) inside cysts in the lungs. After eggs are laid, they are carried up with lung mucus when the animal coughs, and then swallowed to end up being passed through the feces.
Ethyl-acetate sedimentation (an examination of the feces) is the most common way of diagnosing lung fluke. The cat's symptoms include a bad cough, drowsiness, bronchitis, pneumonia, and visible eggs in the feces. Treatment includes Praziquantel and Fenbendazole, common drugs in the treatment of worm infections.
(Continued on page 7)
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It has been a policy from the beginning of Folsom Feline Rescue that flea collars not be allowed and that any collar worn must be a break-away type. There are several reasons for this. Flea collars are not effective. They can get caught and strangle the cat or kitten, or get caught in their mouth causing starvation and other complications (we've heard a firsthand account of a kitten dying from ingesting chemicals from his flea collar). The new topical flea control products now available are highly effective, easy to use, and not toxic to the feline the way a flea collar is. That alone should be enough to eliminate their use. However, we still see cases like that of Malcolm. Malcolm is our new poster kitten for the dangers of flea collar use or any non-breakaway collar.
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Sores in Malcolm's mouth from the toxic flea collar
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Malcolm was found and rescued by a good Samaritan in the Orangevale area. At the time of his rescue, some young neighborhood kids asked if his jaw had fallen off yet. Evidently this poor kitten had been suffering for some time before someone cared
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enough to help him. Malcolm had a flea collar caught in his jaw. It had been so tight that it rubbed both sides of his jaw raw. In addition, he was not able to eat and was on the verge of starvation. Malcolm's rescuer took him to Orangevale Animal Hospital for treatment. Luckily, he was able to recover from this ordeal after many weeks of care and now lives in a wonderful home. It is important that these collars not be used. Only a break-away collar or no collar at all can prevent such dangers. Malcolm was lucky, but others may not be so fortunate.
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Malcolm with his favorite Furby friend
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Malcolm, at home and happy
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