Survey on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) in central Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Cats (Felis catus) are the only felines that live in close contact with humans. Since cats can act as vectors, carriers, reservoirs and definitive hosts of many gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, parasitic assessment could contribute to their survival and well-being.

Aims: The current study aimed to assess the diversity and prevalence of GI parasites in domestic and feral cats from Ratnanagar in Chitwan in Central Nepal.

Methods: A total of 107 fresh faecal samples of cats (90 household cats and 17 feral cats) of varied ages and sex were collected and transported to the laboratory. The copromicroscopic examination was carried out following direct wet mount, formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation, saturated salt flotation, acid-fast staining and sporulation techniques. Furthermore, associated risk factors were evaluated to ascertain the predictor of risks for parasitic acquisition.

Results: The current study revealed an overall 95.3% prevalence rate with a 100% rate in feral cats and 94.4% in household cats. Altogether, 18 (17 known and one unknown) different species of GI parasites were reported with the helminths (95.3%; 11 species) and the protozoa (55.1%; seven species). Besides age and sex, outdoor lifestyle, absence or unknown history of medication and hunting behaviour of the felines are the predictors of risk. Furthermore, mixed infection was comparatively higher than single infection in the faecal samples.

Conclusions: Cats harbour a higher prevalence and greater diversity of GI parasites, and parasitism varies with age and sex. This finding can be essential for veterinarians and public health authorities for strategic treatment and for assessing the zoonotic transmission of the parasites from these felines. Importantly, an effective medication strategy for cats and owners is recommended.

Keywords: Cystoisospora; Toxoascaris; feral cats; polyparasitism; zoonosis.

FIGURE 1

Map of study area

FIGURE 2

Gastrointestinal parasites identified in the cats. (a) cyst of Entamoeba sp. (10 × 10 µm), 400X after direct wet mount technique; (b) oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondi (11 × 10 µm), (12 × 12 µm); (c) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 1 (18 × 13 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (d) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 2 (16 × 11 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (e) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 3 (21 × 12 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (f) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 4 (23 × 17 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (g) oocyst of Cystoisospora felis (45 × 33 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (h) oocyst of Cystoisospora rivolta (25 × 24 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (i) oocyst of unknown coccidia (30 × 29 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (j) egg of Ancylostoma tubaeforme (54 × 35 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (k) egg A. braziliensis (67 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (l) egg of Strongyloides sp.1. (50 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (m) egg of Strongyloides sp. 2. (60 × 34 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (n) egg of Toxocara cati (73 × 65 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (o) egg of Archiacanthocephala (86 × 57 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (p) eggs of taeniid 1. (28 × 27 and 25 × 24) µm, 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation; (q) egg of taeniid 2. (39 × 36 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation; (r) egg of taeniid 3. (37 × 31 µm) after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (s) egg of Dipylidium caninum (125 × 79 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (t) egg of Hymenolepis sp. (52 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (u) egg of Capillaria sp. (58 × 26 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (v) egg of strongyle 1. (80 × 36 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (w) egg of strongyle 2. (80 × 51 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (x) egg of strongyle 3. (68 × 32 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique

FIGURE 2

Gastrointestinal parasites identified in the cats. (a) cyst of Entamoeba sp. (10 × 10 µm), 400X after direct wet mount technique; (b) oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondi (11 × 10 µm), (12 × 12 µm); (c) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 1 (18 × 13 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (d) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 2 (16 × 11 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (e) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 3 (21 × 12 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (f) oocyst of Sarcocystis sp. 4 (23 × 17 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (g) oocyst of Cystoisospora felis (45 × 33 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (h) oocyst of Cystoisospora rivolta (25 × 24 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (i) oocyst of unknown coccidia (30 × 29 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (j) egg of Ancylostoma tubaeforme (54 × 35 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (k) egg A. braziliensis (67 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (l) egg of Strongyloides sp.1. (50 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (m) egg of Strongyloides sp. 2. (60 × 34 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (n) egg of Toxocara cati (73 × 65 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (o) egg of Archiacanthocephala (86 × 57 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (p) eggs of taeniid 1. (28 × 27 and 25 × 24) µm, 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation; (q) egg of taeniid 2. (39 × 36 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation; (r) egg of taeniid 3. (37 × 31 µm) after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (s) egg of Dipylidium caninum (125 × 79 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (t) egg of Hymenolepis sp. (52 × 37 µm), 400X after flotation technique; (u) egg of Capillaria sp. (58 × 26 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (v) egg of strongyle 1. (80 × 36 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (w) egg of strongyle 2. (80 × 51 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique; (x) egg of strongyle 3. (68 × 32 µm), 400X after formalin‐ethyl acetate sedimentation technique