Feline gastrointestinal parasitism in Greece: emergent zoonotic species and associated risk factors

Abstract

BackgroundFeline gastrointestinal parasitism constitutes an issue of concern for veterinarians since parasites are widespread and affect animals’ health and welfare. Furthermore, some of these pathogens have zoonotic potential. To provide detailed data on the current epizootiology of feline endoparasitism, a multicentric survey was conducted during 2016.MethodsFaeces from 1150 cats were collected from all regions of Greece and examined by sedimentation and flotation techniques. Possible risk factors including gender, age, ownership status, living conditions and co-infections with other parasites were assessed using binary regression models for each one of the most prevalent parasites.ResultsThe overall gastrointestinal parasite prevalence in cats was 50.7%. The study population consisted of cats of both sexes, different age groups, ownership status and living conditions. A total of 10 gastrointestinal parasitic species were detected and up to 5 different parasites were isolated in the same faecal sample. The most frequently identified parasites were Toxocara cati (n = 278; 24.2%), followed by Cystoisospora spp. (n = 189; 16.4%), Ancylostomatidae (n = 186; 16.2%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (n = 40; 3.5%), Giardia spp. (n = 26; 2.3%), Joyeuxiella pasqualei (n = 14; 1.2%), Capillaria aerophila (n = 8; 0.7%), Dipylidium caninum (n = 3; 0.2%), Toxascaris leonina (n = 2; 0.1%) and Troglostrongylus brevior (n = 2; 0.1%). The occurrence of co-infections was 11.6%. Concerning risk factors, the likelihood of T. cati infection was higher for female cats living outdoors and for cats being infected with Cystoisospora spp. In the same frame, young, stray, male and free of A. abstrusus cats were more likely to be infected with Cystoisospora spp. Correspondingly, stray, infected with Giardia spp. but free of Cystoisospora spp. cats were more likely to be infected with Ancylostomatidae. Regarding A. abstrusus infection, a higher probability was reported for cats living outdoors and for cats free of Cystoisospora spp., while Giardia spp. infections were more common in young and co-infected with Ancylostomatidae animals.ConclusionsThe prevalence of parasitized cats in Greece was high and thus consideration should be paid to control the risk factors, to implement targeted preventive antiparasitic treatments and educate cat owners on the value of prevention for the health and welfare of their cats.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2812-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Toxocara cati and Other Parasitic Enteropathogens: More Commonly Found in Owned Cats with Gastrointestinal Signs Than in Clinically Healthy Ones

“…Toxocara cati larvae that harbor in different tissues or organs of the paratenic hosts, such as small mammals or birds [ 40 ], once ingested by the definitive host, develop and reach adult stages in the small intestines [ 17 ]. Sex was not found to be a risk factor and the same results were obtained by others [ 11 , 41 ].…”

“…Different studies have identified T. cati as the most frequently found parasite in domestic cats [ 13 , 26 ]. In Europe, T. cati prevalence varies between 7.2 and 83.3% with an average prevalence of 17.8% [ 11 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The prevalence of T. cati in household/owned and asymptomatic cats in Romania lies in the reported average for Europe according to this study and a previous one (20.3%) [ 29 ].…”

“…Parasitic enteropathogens, both protozoa, and helminths, are numerous and one of the causes for gastrointestinal disturbances expressed by diarrhea, vomiting, and/or changes in appetite [ 8 , 9 ], therefore fecal testing must be taken into consideration for differential diagnosis whenever digestive clinical signs are present [ 10 ]. Moreover, it is necessary to protect human–animal interaction by limiting the exposure to various infectious agents that can represent a risk to both cats and humans, such as Toxocara cati , hookworms ( Ancylostoma tubaeforme/Uncinaria stenocephala ), Giardia duodenalis) , Toxoplasma gondii , Dipylidium caninum, and Echinococcus multilocularis [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Pathogens in fleas collected from cats and dogs: distribution and prevalence in the UK

“…For example, in a study of 2775 dog faecal samples from the Lazio Region of central Italy (1156 from households and 1619 from shelter dogs) only 0.1% were found to be infected [16]. In Greece, in a study of the faeces from 1150 cats, a prevalence of 0.2% was detected [47]. However, the poor sensitivity of coproscopy means that faecal analysis is likely to significantly underestimate infection by Dipylidium .…”

Comparison of multiplexed-tandem real-time PCR panel with reference real-time PCR molecular diagnostic assays for detection of Giardia intestinalis and Tritrichomonas foetus in cats

“…In small animal practice, G. intestinalis is often recognised as the most frequently detected enteric parasite (Bouzid et al, 2015;Palmer et al, 2008). The prevalence ranges between 0-30% and this frequency of detection is highlighted by G. intestinalis prominent place in diagnostic PCR faecal panels offered to veterinarians by diagnostic laboratories (Feng and Xiao, 2011;Gizzi et al, 2014;Gruffydd-Jones et al, 2013;Ito et al, 2016;Koehler et al, 2014;Symeonidou et al, 2018;Tysnes et al, 2014).…”