Abstract
Endoparasitic infections are associated with morbidity in cats. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of endoparasites among cats of different life stages in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The samples were analyzed individually by macroscopic exploration for proglottids and centrifugal-flotation. Stool samples were obtained from household cats (n = 57) and shelter cats (n = 336). Endoparasites were detected in 50.64% of the samples. Among household and shelter cats, 21.05% and 55.66% were infected with endoparasites, respectively. In household cats, the most prevalent endoparasites were Ancylostoma spp. (in 25.0%) and Strongyloides spp. (in 25.0%), followed by Toxocara spp. (in 16.67%), Dipylidium caninum (in 16.67%), Cystoisospora spp. (in 8.33%), and Uncinaria spp. + Ancylostoma spp. (in 8.33%). In shelter cats, the most prevalent endoparasite was Ancylostoma spp. (in 29.41%), followed by Cystoisospora spp. (in 26.20%) and Toxocara spp. (in 16.58%), as well as Cystoisospora spp. + Toxocara spp. (in 8.02%); Ancylostoma spp. + Toxocara spp. (in 11.76%); Cystoisospora spp. + Ancylostoma spp. (in 3.74%); Cystoisospora spp. + Toxocara spp. + Ancylostoma spp. (in 3.21%); and Dipylidium caninum + Ancylostoma spp. (in 0.53%). Endoparasitic infections in cats underscore the need for preventive veterinary care and routine coproparasitologic tests.
Highlights
Pet ownership has been shown to help improve the physical and mental health of humans (Matchock, 2015)
This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of endoparasites among cats of different life stages in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In a necropsy study conducted in the city of Cuiabá, in the central-west region of Brazil, Ramos et al (2013) found the prevalence of toxocariasis in cats to be 4.4%, whereas Pereira et al (2017) found it to be 2.2% in stool samples collected from shelter and stray cats in the city of Rio de Janeiro
Summary
Pet ownership has been shown to help improve the physical and mental health of humans (Matchock, 2015). Hookworms (e.g., Ancylostoma spp.) are the most common parasites, causing infection in cats and potentially causing cutaneous larva migrans in humans (Bowman et al, 2010). In a study conducted by Pereira et al (2017), involving stray and shelter cats in the city of Rio de Janeiro, located in the southeastern region of Brazil, the proportions of cats infected with hookworms were 87.9% and 93.3%, respectively. In a necropsy study conducted in the city of Cuiabá, in the central-west region of Brazil, Ramos et al (2013) found the prevalence of toxocariasis in cats to be 4.4%, whereas Pereira et al (2017) found it to be 2.2% in stool samples collected from shelter and stray cats in the city of Rio de Janeiro
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