Physaloptera, commonly known as stomach worms, are a type of parasitic worm that can affect dogs and cats. These worms primarily inhabit the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine of your furry companions. While infections with stomach worms are relatively rare, they can lead to various symptoms and discomfort in affected pets. Understanding the key aspects of Physaloptera infections is essential for pet owners to ensure the well-being of their animals.
How Are Physaloptera Different From Other Worms?
Physaloptera worms are distinct from other gastrointestinal worms that affect cats in several ways:
- Location: Stomach worms mainly reside in the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine, whereas other worms, such as tapeworms and hookworms, predominantly occupy the small intestines of pets.
- Feeding Habits: Stomach worms use their mouths, equipped with sets of teeth, to bite into the tissue of their host's stomach or small intestine. They feed on both tissue and blood, making their feeding habits unique compared to other worms like hookworms, which primarily consume blood.
- Age Preference: Physaloptera worms do not show a particular preference for infecting specific age groups of pets; they can affect animals of various ages.
- Symptoms: While stomach worms are generally less likely to cause severe illness compared to some other worms, chronic vomiting is a common symptom associated with Physaloptera infections.
How Do Pets Get Infected with Physaloptera?
Wild carnivore species, including coyotes, wolves, foxes, bobcats, and raccoons, serve as primary hosts for Physaloptera worms. These wild animals shed stomach worm eggs in their feces. Intermediate hosts, such as the German cockroach, field cricket, camel cricket, flour beetle, and ground beetles, ingest these eggs and become infected. Small animals like rodents, hedgehogs, lizards, frogs, and snakes can eat these infected insects or animals, further perpetuating the infection cycle. Pets can become infected by consuming any of these intermediate hosts or prey.
It's important to note that pets do not get infected by directly ingesting worm eggs from the environment or through interactions with infected wildlife carnivores.
Disease Caused by Physaloptera
Once ingested by a pet, Physaloptera worms attach themselves to the lining of the stomach or small intestine, where they feed on the host's tissue and blood. This feeding process can lead to bleeding wounds and inflammation. Some pets infected with Physaloptera may not display any signs of illness, while others may experience symptoms such as chronic and intermittent vomiting, anorexia (loss of appetite), and the passage of dark, sticky feces containing partially digested blood (melena). Vomiting, particularly chronic and intermittent, is the most common sign of infection, and sometimes, worms may be observed in vomit.
Diagnosis of Physaloptera Infection
Diagnosing Physaloptera infection can be challenging due to the low number of worms often present in infected pets. Diagnostic methods may include:
- Fecal Float: A test that looks for stomach worm eggs in a fecal sample. A positive result confirms infection, but a negative result does not rule it out.
- Observing Vomit: Physaloptera worms or eggs may occasionally be observed in a pet's vomit. Taking pictures of any worms or eggs found can help veterinarians with identification.
- Endoscopy: A more expensive but direct method to visualize and remove stomach worms from the gastrointestinal tract. It may miss worms hidden by mucus, ingested food, or stomach folds.
Given the challenges in diagnosis, veterinarians may opt to treat pets for Physaloptera based on high suspicion, even without confirmation.
Treatment and Prognosis
Treatment typically involves either physically removing worms using endoscopy followed by anthelmintic therapy (worm-killing treatment) or using anthelmintic therapy alone. Endoscopy allows simultaneous diagnosis and treatment but can be more expensive and less reliable. Anthelmintic drugs such as ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate, and fenbendazole may be used to kill stomach worms. Additional medications like anti-nausea drugs and gastroprotectants may be prescribed to manage vomiting and related symptoms.
With appropriate therapy, the prognosis for Physaloptera infection is generally excellent. Success can be monitored through symptom resolution, repeated fecal exams, or repeated gastric endoscopy examinations. However, observing improvement in a pet's overall health and symptoms is often the most reliable indicator of treatment success. If symptoms persist, it's crucial to consult your veterinarian, as there may be another underlying issue requiring attention.
Prevention of Physaloptera Infection
Preventing Physaloptera infection involves limiting your pet's exposure to intermediate hosts and infected animals. For cats, keeping them indoors can help prevent contact with potential intermediate hosts. However, since small insects can sometimes find their way indoors, there is always a minimal risk of infection.
In conclusion, while Physaloptera infections in cats are relatively rare, understanding the potential risks, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options is crucial for responsible pet ownership. Regular veterinary check-ups and prompt attention to any unusual symptoms in your pet can help ensure their continued health and well-being.
Don't have a vet in your area yet? We can help you find a local veterinarian.
If you have more questions, the GeniusVets Telehealth platform will give you unlimited access to text and/or video calls with board-certified veterinarians! To learn more click here.