Parasites of Stray Cats in Iran: A Parasitological and Histopathological Study

Abstract

Many zoonotic parasitic diseases, including Toxocara cati may be spread by stray cat populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasites by performing parasitological and histopathological examinations on stray cats in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 106 stray cats from different geographical areas of Shiraz, southern Iran, were analyzed for parasites. The overall prevalence was found to be 83.02% (88 of 106), and eight parasite species were found, including three species of cestodes, including Joyeuxiella spp. (52.83%), Taenia taeniaeformis (21.70%), Dipylidium caninum (1.89%)], three nematode species inclusive of Physaloptera spp. (23.59%), Toxocara cati (15.09%), Rictularia spp. (1.89%)], one protozoan species, Isospora spp. (6.60%), and one arthropod species, Ctenocephalides felis (5.66%). The prevalence did not signi cantly differ between males and females. It did appear, nevertheless, that the age of cats may be regarded as a risk factor for these parasitic infections. The results of the present study showed that parasitic infections and, more importantly, T. cati are relatively prevalent in stray cats, and the people living in this area are seriously at risk of this zoonotic disease. The cats of this region need to be monitored, and speci c preventive measures should be developed by public health o cials.