First morphological and molecular characterisation of Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda, Diphyllobothriidae) in a domestic cat from Veracruz, Mexico

Cestodes of the genus Spirometra are multi-host parasites that are the causative agents of spirometrosis in domestic and wild carnivores and sparganosis in humans, endemic diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. In domestic animals, the infection is usually asymptomatic or produces gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and chronic diarrhea. In humans, an incidental parasitosis develops where the larva can lodge in tissues and cause a variety of symptoms, including neuropathies, blindness, paralysis, and death. Described here is a case of spirometrosis in a domestic cat treated in a veterinary clinic in Veracruz, Mexico. The cat presented with an approximate 50 cm section of the strobila protruding from the anus. The proglottids and eggs of the cestode were described via morphological analyses. DNA was obtained from the proglottids for the amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Genetic analysis demonstrated 100 % similarity to Spirometra mansoni. The cat was treated orally with ivermectin/praziquantel (2 mg/50 mg), and the dose was repeated 24 h later. The cat was observed daily for seven days, and no adverse effects occurred. On days 8 and 68 post-treatment, coprological examination revealed no evidence of the parasite. This is the first report of spirometrosis in cats from Mexico.