The prevalence of Trichuris spp. infection in indoor and outdoor cats on St. Kitts.

Jenifer Kathleen Ketzis,Charles Pemberton,Sarah Chinault,Mary M Pereira,Linda Shell

doi:10.3855/jidc.5778

Jenifer Kathleen Ketzis, Charles Pemberton + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.5778

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Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Trichuris spp. and other intestinal parasitic infections in owned cats on St. Kitts. The feces of 41 non-feral cats (23 indoor only; 18 indoor/outdoor) were examined for the presence of Trichuris spp. eggs. Nine (22%) of the cats were positive for Trichuris spp. Prevalence of trichuriasis in indoor cats was 26.0% as compared to 16.7% in outdoor cats. Other parasites identified included Ancylostoma spp. (10%; 4 cats), Toxocara cati (2%; 1 cat), Platynosomum spp. (22%; 9 cats), Mammomonogamus spp. (2%; 1 cat) and coccidia (7%; 3 cats). On St. Kitts, indoor cats are as likely to have parasite infections as outdoor cats. Given the zoonotic potential of some of the identified parasites, periodical anthelmintic treatment should be provided to both indoor and outdoor cats.

Highlights

The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Trichuris spp. and other intestinal parasitic infections in owned cats on St
Trichuriasis is a parasitic infection of the colon and cecum in dogs, cats, swine, humans and other animals caused by whipworms (Trichuris spp.)
Platynosomum spp.; 1 (3%) had Platynosomum spp. and Toxocara cati; 3 (9%) had Ancylostoma spp. and; 2 (6%) had coccidia. This is the first study on intestinal helminth infections in owned cats in the Caribbean region

Summary

Introduction

The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Trichuris spp. and other intestinal parasitic infections in owned cats on St. Kitts. Conclusion: On St. Kitts, indoor cats are as likely to have parasite infections as outdoor cats. Given the zoonotic potential of some of the identified parasites, periodical anthelmintic treatment should be provided to both indoor and outdoor cats. Trichuriasis is a parasitic infection of the colon and cecum in dogs, cats, swine, humans and other animals caused by whipworms (Trichuris spp.). The human whipworm, T. suis, the pig whipworm, and T. vulpis, the dog whipworm, can cause diarrhea and inflammation of the cecum and colon [1,2,3,4]. Unlike Trichuris in dogs, swine and humans, no anthelmintic is registered for the treatment of Trichuris spp. in cats

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