Gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats in Perth, Western Australia

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.08.010

Veterinary Parasitology

Volume 117, Issue 4, 28 November 2003, Pages 251-262

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.08.010 Get rights and content

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in a sample of domestic cats in Perth and the knowledge of their owners about the control and potential for zoonotic transmission of these parasites. Faecal samples (418), collected from cats originating from five sources, were examined by microscopy and questionnaires administered to cat owners. Forty randomly selected samples were also screened using PCR in order to detect cysts of Giardia and oocysts of Cryptosporidium that may have been present in a faecal sample at very low levels. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic cats by microscopy was 8.6%. Pet shop kittens had the highest parasite prevalence (34.3%), followed by cats and kittens from breeding establishments (15.8%), refuge cats and kittens (8.3%), privately owned cats (2.3%), and boarding cats and kittens (1.6%). Surprisingly, 80% of the 40 cats tested by PCR were positive for Giardia duodenalis and 10% for Cryptosporidium. None of these cats were positive on microscopy. After adjusting for other factors with multiple logistic regression, kittens less than 6 months of age, and cats living in households with more than one cat or with a dog were significantly more likely to be parasitised. In the logistic regression model, the presence of parasitism was also significantly influenced by the number of anthelmintic doses administered in the 12 month period prior to the study. The majority (64.5%) of cat owners were aware that feline parasites could be transmitted to humans, however less than half (42.8%) were aware of the modes of transmission to humans.

Introduction

Recently, concerns about the public health dangers of pet ownership have increased considerably, and while many potentially zoonotic organisms are associated with cats, enteric pathogens are of particular concern (Hill et al., 2000). In relation to immunocompromised humans, although the origin of zoonotic infections is usually unknown, parasites such as Cryptosporidium which can also parasitise cats (Mtambo et al., 1991, Sargent et al., 1998, Spain et al., 2001) have the ability to cause life-threatening infections in these individuals (Garrido-Davila and Ramirez-Ronda, 1991, Crowe, 1992).

There have been few detailed and comprehensive studies of the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic cats carried out and there is little information on the level of parasitic infestation in domestic cats with parasites such as Toxocara cati and Cryptosporidium. Most surveys of feline gastrointestinal parasites conducted in the past have been limited to feral cats (Coman et al., 1981a, Coman et al., 1981b; Nichol et al., 1981, Milstein and Goldsmid, 1997), and have been carried out in order to identify the significance of feral cats as potential reservoirs of infection (Calvete et al., 1997). While previous studies on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in feral cats have yielded important results (Milstein and Goldsmid, 1997), it cannot be assumed these results are indicative of the situation in domestic cats. However, as the potential for zoonotic transmission of gastrointestinal parasites (Glickman and Magnaval, 1993, Schantz, 1994, Overgaauw, 1997) and the human health risks associated with cat ownership (Garrido-Davila and Ramirez-Ronda, 1991, Angulo et al., 1994, Schantz, 1994) are now being realised, it is important that these studies are also conducted on domestic cats in urban areas in order to determine the potential reservoir of infection for humans.

The current study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of enteric parasites in different groups of cats from the Perth metropolitan area. A questionnaire survey was also employed to obtain demographic and management data relating to the cats sampled, as well as determining cat owners knowledge of zoonotic parasites. This information was then correlated with the parasitological results obtained.

Section snippets

Source of faecal samples

Feline faecal samples (n=418) were collected from five sources in metropolitan Perth during January to September 2001. Fresh faecal samples were collected from cats (n=125) boarding at a local boarding facility. The ages of the cats ranged from 6 months to 20 years. This facility was attached to a veterinary clinic. At three refuge facilities, samples were collected from adult cats and young kittens (n=120). The ages of the kittens and cats ranged from 6 weeks to 12 years old, however the

Collection and purification of cysts and oocysts and isolation of DNA

Cysts and oocysts were collected and purified and DNA was isolated as described previously (McGlade et al., 2003).

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites

The overall prevalence of infestation with gastrointestinal parasites by microscopy was 8.6% (CI 3.1–14.1). Infection with only one species of parasite was more common (7.6%) than infection with multiple parasite species (1%). Approximately one-third (34.3%, CI 18.6–50.0) of the kittens from pet shops were infected with at least one parasite, compared with 15.8% (CI 8.5–23.1) of cats from breeding establishments, 8.3% (CI 3.4–13.3) of refuge cats, 2.3% (CI 0–6.8) of privately owned cats and

Discussion

This study has found that the level of gastrointestinal helminth and protozoan parasites, with the exception of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, in domestic cats in metropolitan Perth is very low. The findings confirm a trend in Australia of a reduction in the prevalence of helminth parasites in cats, particularly T. cati (Shaw et al., 1983, Sargent, 1997). It is evident that enteric protozoan parasites are now the dominant parasites affecting domestic cats in Perth, with a prevalence considerably

Acknowledgements

The cooperation of all the cat owners who were involved in this project is gratefully acknowledged.

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Cryptosporidiosis and Cyclosporiasis
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Cryptosporidiosis
- •
  First Described: The genus Cryptosporidium was first described in 1910 by Tyzzer, who in 1912 also described Cryptosporidium parvum in the small intestine of mice.¹
- •
  Cause: Cryptosporidium is a ubiquitous coccidian genus in the phylum Apicomplexa, suborder Eimeriorina, family Cryptosporidiidae, which inhabits the epithelium of the respiratory and digestive systems of reptiles, birds, and mammals. Based on extensive biological and molecular data, Cryptosporidium has been recently transferred from the Coccidia, to a new subclass, Cryptogregaria, with gregarine parasites.²
- •
  Affected Hosts: Mammals, birds, and reptiles.
- •
  Intermediate Hosts: Although there are no intermediate hosts, there are multiple potential transport hosts that may carry Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and indirectly infect dogs or cats.
- •
  Geographic Distribution: Worldwide.
- •
  Route of Transmission: Direct contact with infected humans and animals, drinking contaminated water during recreational activities, or by eating or drinking contaminated food.
- •
  Major Clinical Signs: Cryptosporidium spp. have been detected in dogs and cats with and without GI signs of disease. Clinical signs include diarrhea, usually small bowel characterized by high volume, low-frequency stools, and significant weight loss.
- •
  Differential Diagnoses: Dietary, nematode parasitic, viral, and bacterial diarrhea.
- •
  Human Health Significance: Cryptosporidium parvum was the cause of numerous waterborne outbreaks. The majority of the infections in humans are caused by Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum.However, Cryptosporidium canis and Cryptosporidium felis DNA has also been amplified from the feces of people, and so the potential for zoonotic transmission exists (see Public Health Aspects).
Cyclosporiasis
- •
  Causes: Cyclospora (phylum Apicomplexa, suborder Eimeriorina, family Eimeriidae) was first described in 1993.³
- •
  Affected Hosts: Although Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts have also been identified in animals, currently C. cayetanensis is the only species known to infect humans.
- •
  Geographic Distribution: Cyclospora infections have been described worldwide. In many non-industrialized countries, infections are endemic. Sporadic reports associated with outbreaks occur in industrialized countries.
- •
  Primary Mode of Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated food and water.
- •
  Major Clinical Signs: Clinical illness, if any, in dogs and cats is uncertain, because definitive oocysts have been documented only in human feces. Infected humans can develop anorexia, nausea, watery diarrhea, flatulence, fatigue, abdominal cramping, low-grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss after C. cayetanensis infection; the most severe symptoms develop in children and in humans with HIV/AIDS.
- •
  Differential Diagnoses. Dietary, nematode parasitic, viral, and bacterial diarrhea.
- •
  Human Health Significance: Cyclospora cayetanensis seems to be the only species detected in humans, and they seem to be its specific host. However, contact with animals was considered a risk factor for human infection in many studies worldwide.
The global prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection among cats during 1988–2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2021, Microbial Pathogenesis
Cryptosporidiosis is an important zoonosis caused by Cryptosporidium. This disease causes a global public health problem. The cat is considered to be one of the potential hosts for transmitting Cryptosporidium to humans. In this study, a global meta-analysis for Cryptosporidium infection in cats was performed. The articles related to Cryptosporidium infection in cats were systematically searched in databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, VIP Chinese Journal Database, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Finally, 92 articles published from 1988 to 2021, which met the criteria of systematic review and meta-analysis, were collected. During the selected period, the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium among cats was identified to be 6.0%. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium detected by microscopy, coproantigens, and molecular biology methods were 4.2%, 8.2%, and 5.0%, respectively. Among 9 species/genotypes (C. felis, C. parvum, C. muris, Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV, C. baileyi, C. ryanae, C. hominis, Cryptosporidium sp. rat genotype III and most closely related to Cryptosporidium sp. rat genotype III), the prevalence of C. parvum (4.2%) was significantly higher than that of other species/genotypes. Among five continents, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Africa (30.5%) was significantly higher than in other continents. We also analyzed the effects of different geographical factors (longitude, latitude, altitude, mean temperature, precipitation, and humidity) on Cryptosporidium infection among cats. The results showed that cryptosporidiosis was common in cats all over the world. This systematic review and meta-analysis has systematically introduced the global epidemiology of Cryptosporidium in cats and correlated risk factors. Health authorities, doctors, veterinarians and cat owners’ awareness of the prevalence, risk factors and complications of Cryptosporidium are important for the development of effective prevention strategies for cryptosporidiosis.
Advances in molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in dogs and cats
2021, International Journal for Parasitology
The use of molecular tools has led to the identification of several zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats. Among them, Cryptosporidium canis and Cryptosporidium felis are dominant species causing canine and feline cryptosporidiosis, respectively. Some Cryptosporidium parvum infections have also been identified in both groups of animals. The identification of C. canis, C. felis and C. parvum in both pets and owners suggests the possible occurrence of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. between humans and pets. However, few cases of such concurrent infections have been reported. Thus, the cross-species transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. between dogs or cats and humans has long been a controversial issue. Recently developed subtyping tools for C. canis and C. felis should be very useful in identification of zoonotic transmission of both Cryptosporidium spp. Data generated using these tools have confirmed the occurrence of zoonotic transmission of these two Cryptosporidium spp. between owners and their pets, but have also shown the potential presence of host-adapted subtypes. Extensive usage of these subtyping tools in epidemiological studies of human cryptosporidiosis is needed for improved understanding of the importance of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. from pets.
Contamination of Italian parks with canine helminth eggs and health risk perception of the public
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Citation Excerpt :
This is surprising in comparison to previous studies carried out in Italy, where most dog owners were aware of faecal-transmitted zoonoses, including routes of transmission (Beraldo et al., 2014; Zanzani et al., 2014). Similar data were described in Australia: dog and cat owners were aware of the potential risk of parasitic zoonoses originating from pets, even if the routes of transmission were not clear (McGlade et al., 2003; Palmer et al., 2010). Nonetheless, a USA study provided similar results to those presented here: most of the people interviewed were unaware of dog-originating zoonoses (Bingham et al., 2010).
The contamination of public areas by dog faeces is a social behaviour and public health problem. In fact, the most frequently isolated intestinal helminths in dogs are distributed worldwide, and most of them have zoonotic potential (i.e., ascarids and ancylostomatids).
The aims of this survey were to evaluate citizen awareness of health risks for animals and humans related to canine faecal pollution and to estimate the presence and prevalence of intestinal helminths in dog faeces collected in green public areas in three municipalities of Italy (Padua, Rome and Teramo). The awareness of citizens about the health risks related to faecal pollution was evaluated using questionnaires submitted to 313 dog owners and 159 non-dog owners in Padua (n = 341) and Rome (n = 131). Most dog owners (85.4%) declared they picked up their dog’s faeces every time, and these data were confirmed by operators secretly observing dog owners. Moreover, 84.3% participants were aware of the existence of a municipal regulation concerning the correct management of animals in public areas with no significant differences between dog owners and non-dog owners, whereas Rome citizens were significantly more aware than Padua citizens. Nonetheless, only 10.9% (51/469) of responders knew the health risks related to canine faecal pollution, with no significant differences between dog and non-dog owners.
A total of 677 dog stool samples were collected and copromicroscopically analysed. Forty-eight (7.1%) samples were positive for at least one parasite species, with significantly lower prevalence values in Padua (2.2%) than in Rome (11.9%) and Teramo (8.6%). The highest prevalence was detected for Trichuris vulpis (4.4%), followed by Toxocara canis (1.9%); T. vulpis presented significantly lower prevalence in Padua than in the other cities. Other helminths were found with values under 0.5% in the investigated cities.
This survey shows that most citizens are unaware of the health risk related to abandoned canine faeces on public soils. Nevertheless, laboratory results suggest a limited risk for dog and human health, but the zoonotic risk due to the high vitality of infective helminths eggs in the soil should always be considered.
A review of Cystoisospora felis and C. rivolta-induced coccidiosis in cats
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Until the discovery of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat feces in 1970, little was known of coccidiosis in cats. Until 1970, three coccidian parasites based on different sized oocysts were recognized, the parasite with large oocysts (∼40 μm long and called Isospora felis), medium sized oocysts (∼25 μm long, called Isospora rivolta), and small sized oocysts (14 μm or less, called Isospora bigemina) were known and they were considered not host-specific. Later, it was demonstrated that these parasites were host-specific and had also extra-intestinal stages. The Isospora bigemina turned out to be more than 25 organisms belonging to T. gondii, Hammondia spp., Sarcocystis spp., Besnoitia spp., and Neospora spp.; these subjects have been reviewed previously in detail. The present paper summarizes biology of Isospora felis, and I. rivolta (now transferred to genus Cystoisospora), including taxonomy, life cycle, diagnosis, and treatment. Re-excretion of T. gondii oocysts from chronically infected cats after superinfection with Cystoisospora felis oocysts is discussed. There are only two species of Cystoisospora species in cats, C. felis and C. rivolta; Isospora novocati and Cystoisospora frenkeli named for I. rivolta-like parasites of cats are considered synonym of C. rivolta. Clinical coccidiosis occurs more commonly in recently weaned kittens and C. felis infections are more prevalent than C. rivolta.
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Gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats in Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Source of faecal samples

Collection and purification of cysts and oocysts and isolation of DNA

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Vet. J.

Infect. Dis. Clin. North Am.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Caring for pets of immunocompromised persons

J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites in stray cats from the mid-Ebro Valley, Spain

Vet. Parasitol.

Diagnosis and prevalence of Giardia spp. in dogs and cats

Aust. Vet. J.

Protozoan and viral infections of feral cats

Aust. Vet. J.

Helminth parasites and arthropods of feral cats

Aust. Vet. J.

Management of AIDS related infections

Today’s Life Sci.

Improved staining method for detecting Cryptosporidium oocysts in stools using malachite green

J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol.

A critical study of clinical laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of protozoan cysts and helminth eggs in feces

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.

Updates on AIDS Cryptosporidiosis: a review

Bol. Assoc. Med. P. R.