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

• Main Authors: Aurora L. Ursache, Adriana Györke, Viorica Mircean, Mirabela O. Dumitrache, Andrei Răzvan Codea, Vasile Cozma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Pathogens
• Subjects: <i>T. cati</i>; enteropathogens; parasites; gastrointestinal signs; cats; risk factors
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/2/198

Intestinal parasites are involved in the health and wellbeing of cats and some of them, due to their zoonotic potential, represent a problem for public health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of parasitic infections in cats with gastrointestinal signs<i>.</i> Fecal samples collected from 137 cats were analyzed by the flotation method using a sodium chloride saturated solution. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 50.4%. Intestinal parasites were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) more common in cats with digestive clinical signs (66.7%) than in clinically healthy ones (19.2%). <i>Toxocara cati</i> (40.2%) was the most frequently identified intestinal parasite, followed by <i>Cystoisospora</i> spp. (10.2%), <i>hookworms</i> (3.7%), <i>Taeni</i><i>idae</i> (2.2), <i>Giardia </i><i>duodenalis </i>(2.2%), and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (0.7%). <i>T</i><i>oxocara</i><i> cati</i> (53.3%, <i>p</i><i> </i>< 0.0001) and <i>Cystoisospora</i> spp. (15.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were significantly more frequently diagnosed in cats with clinical signs. A lack of deworming in the last three months (OR: 15.9), outdoor access (OR: 13.8), the presence of digestive symptoms (OR: 5.4), and young age (OR: 4.2) were identified as risk factors for <i>T. cati</i> infection by logistic regression analysis. Regardless of age, gastrointestinal signs like vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence were positively associated with <i>T. cati</i>.