Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites of domestic cats (Felis catus) not only cause morbidity but are also potential zoonotic agents. The current study aimed at establishing the prevalence of GIT parasites in cats kept by households in Thika region, Kenya. Fecal samples were collected randomly from 103 cats and analyzed for presence of parasites using standard parasitological methods. In descending order, the prevalence of the detected protozoa parasites was Isospora spp. 43.7% (95% CI: 40.4–47%), Cryptosporidium spp. 40.8% (95% CI: 37.5–44.1%), Toxoplasma gondii 7.8% (95% CI: 4.5–11.1%), and Entamoeba spp. 2.9% (95% CI: 1.6–6.2%). The prevalence of the observed helminths was Strongyloides stercoralis 43.7% (95% CI: 40.4–47%), Toxocara cati 23.3% (95% CI: 20–26.6%), Ancylostoma spp. 9.7% (95% CI: 6.4–13%), Dipylidium caninum 8.7% (95% CI: 5.4–12.0%), and Acanthocephala spp. 1.9% (95% CI: 1–4.2%). The percentage of cats excreting at least one species of parasite was 73.2% (95% CI = 69.9–76.5%). The study shows that the cats have high spectrum (9) of parasites which are known to affect the cat's health and some are of zoonotic significance.
Highlights
Domestic cats (Felis catus) are important companions in many households, where they are mainly regarded as pets
Four protozoan parasites with a prevalence ranging from 2.9% to 43.7% were observed in the study and their magnitudes in descending order were Isospora spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Entamoeba spp. (Table 1)
Thirteen cats (12.6%) were found to be excreting oocysts which had similar morphology to those of Toxoplasma. Since other parasites such as Hammondia have similar morphology to Toxoplasma, the presence of T. gondii was confirmed by the mouse bioassay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Summary
Domestic cats (Felis catus) are important companions in many households, where they are mainly regarded as pets. In developing countries like Kenya, besides being pets, the cats are used to control rodents within and outside the households [1]. In spite of their importance, there are welldocumented health hazards associated with owning cats [2]. There are a diverse range of infections, including parasitic, bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases that can be transmitted to humans from domestic cats. Most of the diseases can be controlled or prevented by the owners of the cats if they are knowledgeable enough and have the resources to do so In absence of veterinary care, domesticated free roaming cats can cause public health problems and animal-welfare concerns in many countries [2].
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