![]() ![]() Visceral larval migrans (VML) and ocular larval migrans (OLM) are conditions caused by the migration of the roundworm larva through human body tissues. This parasite has the potential to be transmitted to humans. Diagnosis is formed by mixing fresh stool with fecal flotation liquid and looking at the mixture under the microscope to check for eggs. Sometimes when the parasite burden is so large, a cat may vomit a worm or pass a worm in the stool, but that isn’t very common. You typically do not see these parasites with the naked eye. While most roundworm infections are not dangerous to the cat’s health, roundworm infections can become life-threatening if the worm numbers are so high that the intestines get blocked. The prevalence of this parasite is extremely high in kittens (because of the transmission from mother cat). They can also become infected by ingesting the eggs in the infected soil. Cats become infected with this worm through their mother, or by eating rodents or bugs that carry the worms in their body tissues. An adult roundworm looks kind of like a spaghetti noodle. The adult roundworm is beige and between 8-12.5 cm (3-5 inches). These worms are the most common intestinal parasite of the cats we see at the clinic. ![]() Some parasites are also transmissible to people! Parasites can also weaken the cat’s immune system, which will make the cat susceptible to other types of infection and illness. Worms can lead to serious health concerns if the vomiting and diarrhea cause dehydration. Other cats have non-specific clinical signs such as coughing, poor hair coat, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, mucus in the stool, poor appetite and/or a pot-bellied appearance. ![]() Many cats who have parasites don’t show any outward signs of the infestation. I will be focusing on the worm-like parasites for this month’s blog. ![]() That’s almost half of the pet cat population! The most common parasites can be worm-like (roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm) or single-celled organisms (coccidia, giardia and toxoplasma). According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, the number of household cats who have had or currently have parasites sits around the 45% mark. Gastrointestinal parasites are common in cats more common than people are aware. ![]()
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