☆ 4.5 Article

Prevalence of endoparasites in household cat (Felis catus) populations from Transylvania (Romania) and association with risk factors

VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY (2010)

Journal

VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY

Volume 171, Issue 1-2, Pages 163-166

Publisher

ELSEVIER

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.03.005

Keywords

Endoparasites; Household cats; Protozoa; Helminths; Zoonosis; Romania

Funding

Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation
National Centre for Programme Management from Romania [PNII PC 51-013/2007]

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Abstract

There is no current information regarding the prevalence of parasites in Romanian cats. Consequently, we conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of endoparasites in a sample of household cats in the Transylvania region, to point out the risk factors for parasite infection and to evaluate the knowledge of cat owners about the zoonotic potential of some parasites. Four hundred fourteen faecal samples were collected and examined by sodium chloride flotation followed by microscopy. Also, questionnaires were administered to cat owners (196). The overall prevalence of endoparasites in household cats was 34.3% (142/414; Cl 29.8-39.1). Concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 17.6% cats. The detected parasites were Toxocara cati (20.3%), Ancylostoma spp. (10.1%), Isospora rivolta (8.9%), Isospora felis (5.3%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (5.6%), Strongyloides spp. (3.4%), Capillaria aerophila (3.1%). Taenia taeniaeformis (2.7%), T. gondii/H. hammondi (1.2%), Sarcocystis spp. (1%), Giardia duodenalis (0.7%) and Dypillidium caninum (0.2%). Risk factors for infection with parasites in cats were identified to be age and medium (rural or urban area). Thus, I. felis, I. rivolta and T. cati were more common in cats less than/equal to 1-year old, and Ancylostoma spp. and A. abstrusus were more prevalent in cats older than 1-year of age. 72.4% of the owners applied anthelmintic treatments to their cats, more commonly in urban areas (87.3%) (4 treatments/year) than in rural areas (12.7%) (1 treatment/year). 66.3% of the owners knew about the zoonotic potential of some parasites from cats, and the main source of information was veterinarians (65.4%). In conclusion the prevalence of endoparasites in household cats from Transylvania is high. Consequently, consideration should be given to the use of anthelmintics and to pet owner education. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites, Risk Factors and Zoonotic Aspects in Dog and Cat Populations from Goi & aacute;s, Brazil

Juliana Bruno Borges Souza, Zara Mariana de Assis Silva, Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro, Iago de Sa Moraes, Ana Vitoria Alves-Sobrinho, Klaus Casaro Saturnino, Henrique Trevizoli Ferraz, Monica Rodrigues Ferreira Machado, Isis Assis Braga, Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos

Summary: This study aimed to identify the main intestinal parasites and their associated risk factors in dogs and cats in Jata, Brazil. The results showed that gastrointestinal diseases caused by parasites are common in domestic animals, posing a risk to human health due to zoonoses. Risk factors for parasitism include age, average income of owners, access to garbage and sewage, outdated deworming, and contact with animals. Establishing public policies and implementing preventive and control measures are necessary to reduce parasite occurrence and human exposure to pathogenic agents.

VETERINARY SCIENCES (2023)