Endoparasites of household and shelter cats in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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.

Preliminary survey of feline intestinal parasites in Ghana

“…Hookworms were the second most prevalent parasites in this study (22.2%), which is similar to published data [30,31]. Infection of cats with hookworms may occur via ingestion of free larvae from the soil or paratenic hosts, maternal milk and transcutaneous penetration by infective larvae.…”

The Prevalence of Endoparasites in Slovakian Household Dogs and Cats

“…In contrast to our data Capari et al (2013) study found that the prevalence of endoparasites infection in Hungarian domestic cats was 17.4%. The data is comparable with studies from Brazil and Cyprus where T. cati was found to be prevalent in 16.67% and 12%, respectively (Diakou et al, 2017;Ramos et al, 2020).…”

Socioeconomic profile, animal care, sanitary practices, and knowledge about parasites among owners of domestic dogs and cats treated in Rio de Janeiro city

“…Parasites with zoonotic potential, such as Toxocara sp., hookworms, Dypilidium caninum, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, stand out among the ones identified in these animals (Arruda et al, 2021a, b;Balassiano et al, 2009;Bastos et al, 2014;Cunha et al, 2016;Leal et al, 2015;Ramos et al, 2020). Owners' lack of knowledge about parasites may be one of the factors contributing to animal infections and to parasites' permanence in the environment.…”