Dr. Jody Gookin and Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats

Dr. Vicki Thayer, Executive Director of Winn Feline Foundation, interviews Dr. Jody Gookin of North Carolina State University about her recently funded 2016 research project (W16-053), Efficacy of a new treatment for cats with ronidazole-resistant Tritrichomonas foetus infection.  Tritrichomonas foetus (TF) is a parasitic infection that causes foul relapsing bouts of diarrhea in cats from every corner of the world. Only the drug ronidazole has been identified as effective in treating TF infection but 36% of cats fail to clinically benefit from the drug and others suffer from drug toxicity. An alternative drug has been identified that is 10 times more effective than ronidazole at killing feline TF. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness and safety of this alternative drug for treatment of cats with TF infection and diarrhea and that failed prior treatment with ronidazole.