Liver cysts in a kitten with Platynosomum sp

Background: Hepatic cysts are rarely described in association with infections by Platynosomum sp. Infected animals are most often asymptomatic, and the severity of symptoms is associated with the number of biliary tract parasites, which may lead to cholangitis and cholangiohepatitis. Although platinosomiasis is often associated with cholangitis and cholangiohepatitis, it rarely is with polycystic disease. For the parasite's life cycle to occur, the infected cat must eliminate the eggs in the feces and three intermediate hosts are needed: snails, terrestrial isopods and vertebrates like the frog or the gecko. The eggs are ingested by the snails, then the miracids are released and matured into the mother sporocyst form, which originates child sporocysts containing the cercariae, that leave the mollusks for the soil and are ingested by the terrestrial isopod in which the cercariae matures until metacercariae. Vertebrates ingest terrestrial isopods and are ingested by felines. The present study aimed to report an unusual case of platinosomiasis with the development of multiple hepatic cysts. Case: A mixed breed male kitten was admitted with a history of apathy, hyporexia, increased abdominal volume and jaundice. In the ultrasound examination, we could see hepatomegaly and several hypoecogenic rounded structures, similar to cysts. There was an increase of serum concentration of the hepatic enzymes alanine transaminase and gamma glutamyl transferase enzyme. The parasite's eggs were investigated in the patient's feces using the simple sedimentation method, with a negative result. The animal was submitted to celiotomy and it was possible to observe several cystic structures in the liver. The cysts content was sent to cytology and culture. Cytology result was compatible with liver cyst and there was no bacterial growth in the culture. Bile fluid was collected and sent for Platynosomum sp. research using the centrifugal sedimentation test in formalin-ether solution, which allowed the parasite's eggs to be observed. The cat was treated with praziquantel,silymarin, S-Adenosyl methionine, and ursodeoxycholic acid. The patient gradually improved from jaundice and there was a reduction in abdominal volume. Discussion: This report describes a case of platinossomiasis associated with polycystic liver disease in a domestic cat, which seems to be an uncommon presentation. Most infected cats are asymptomatic, but some animals may exhibit anorexia, apathy, increased abdominal volume due to hepatomegaly and/or ascitis and jaundice. Although infestation in domestic cats is relatively common, its association with liver cysts is rare or poorly reported in the literature, representing a diagnostic challenge, which makes mandatory the inclusion of this differential diagnosis in polycystic liver diseases in cats. The diagnosis of this parasitosis can be made based on the association among clinical signs, laboratory tests and ultrasound examination, but the definitive diagnosis is usually made by visualizing the parasite's eggs. In the case described, it was not possible to observe parasite's eggs in the patient's feces, but in the bile. Platynosomum sp. infection should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of polycystic liver disease in cats, especially in countries with tropical or subtropical climate. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment were fundamental for the improvement of the patient's clinical condition.

Platynosomum fastosum-induced Infections in Domestic Shorthair Cats: a Retrospective Study of Seven Cases

The clinical and the pathological findings associated with Platynosomum fastosum-induced infections are described in Domestic shorthair cats by the retrospective analyses of archival records. Icterus was the most predominant clinical alteration observed; three cats demonstrated clinical manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. The laboratory findings of two cases confirmed severe hepatic dysfunction due to elevations in the serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, phosphatase alkaline, and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Hypertrophy of bile ducts occurred in all animals. All cats demonstrated adenomatous hyperplasia of biliary epithelium and/or periductal fibrosis associated with intraductal trematode and/or intralesional ova of P. fastosum. One cat had pathological alterations consistent with cystic mucinous hyperplasia and gallbladder mucocele associated with intralesional ova of P. fastosum, while dilated cystic intra-hepatic structures associated with chronic platynosomiasis occurred in another cat. Platynosomiasis was an incidental finding in one cat.(AU)

Platynosomum fastosum infection in two cats in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State - Brazil

This report describes two cases of cat infection by Platynosomum fastosum in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In case 1, a female shorthair presented at necropsy high infestation by this fluke and had macroscopic and microscopic lesions related to P. fastosum. In case 2, a female shorthair was submitted to necropsy and did not show significant lesions. At Histopathological exam of liver there were a few biliary ducts with flukes with the same characteristics of case 1. In both cases, the diagnosis of P. fastosum was based on morphology of this fluke at histology exam. Additionally, in case 1 a parasitological analysis was performed. To authors knowledge this is the first report of P. fastosum in the city of Belo Horizonte and emphasizes the importance of considering this agent in the differentials related to cholangitis in cats.

Platynosomum fastosum-induced infections in domestic shorthair cats: a retrospective study of seven cases

The clinical and the pathological findings associated with Platynosomum fastosum-induced infections are described in Domestic shorthair cats by the retrospective analyses of archival records. Icterus was the most predominant clinical alteration observed; three cats demonstrated clinical manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. The laboratory findings of two cases confirmed severe hepatic dysfunction due to elevations in the serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, phosphatase alkaline, and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Hypertrophy of bile ducts occurred in all animals. All cats demonstrated adenomatous hyperplasia of biliary epithelium and/or periductal fibrosis associated with intraductal trematode and/or intralesional ova of P. fastosum. One cat had pathological alterations consistent with cystic mucinous hyperplasia and gallbladder mucocele associated with intralesional ova of P. fastosum, while dilated cystic intra-hepatic structures associated with chronic platynosomiasis occurred in another cat. Platynosomiasis was an incidental finding in one cat.