Gastrointestinal parasites of cats in Brazil: frequency and zoonotic risk

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 254 - 257
• Main Authors: Monteiro, Maria Fernanda Melo, Ramos, Rafael Antonio Nascimento, Calado, Andréa Maria Campos, Lima, Victor Fernando Santana, Ramos, Ingrid Carla do Nascimento, Tenório, Rodrigo Ferreira Lima, Faustino, Maria Aparecida da Glória, Alves, Leucio Câmara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 12.04.2016; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Diagnóstico coproparasitológico; Feces - parasitology; felinos; FLOTAC; Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology; Helminths; helmintos; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - parasitology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; PARASITOLOGY; protozoários; Toxocara; Toxocariasis - parasitology; VETERINARY SCIENCES; zoonoses; helmintos; Copromicroscopic diagnosis; felines; protozoários; zoonoses; FLOTAC; helminth; Diagnóstico coproparasitológico; zoonosis; protozoa; felinos
• ISSN: 0103-846X; 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612016019

Gastrointestinal helminths are considered to be the most common parasites affecting cats worldwide. Correct diagnosis of these parasites in animals living in urban areas is pivotal, especially considering the zoonotic potential of some species (e.g. Ancylostoma sp. and Toxocara sp.). In this study, a copromicroscopic survey was conducted using fecal samples (n = 173) from domestic cats living in the northeastern region of Brazil. Samples were examined through the FLOTAC technique and the overall results showed positivity of 65.31% (113/173) among the samples analyzed. Coinfections were observed in 46.01% (52/113) of the positive samples. The most common parasites detected were Ancylostoma sp., Toxocara cati, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris sp., Dipylidium caninum and Cystoisospora sp. From an epidemiological point of view, these findings are important, especially considering that zoonotic parasites (e.g. Ancylostoma sp. and Toxocara sp.) were the nematodes most frequently diagnosed in this study. Therefore, the human population living in close contact with cats is at risk of infection caused by the zoonotic helminths of these animals. In addition, for the first time the FLOTAC has been used to diagnosing gastrointestinal parasites of cats in Brazil.