Gastrointestinal parasites of cats in Denmark assessed by necropsy and concentration McMaster technique

Nao Takeuchi-Storm, H. Mejer, Mohammad Nafi Solaiman Al-Sabi, C. S. Olsen, S. M. Thamsborg, Heidi Enemark

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The large population of feral cats in Denmark may potentially transmit pathogens to household cats and zoonotic parasites to humans. A total of 99 euthanized cats; feral cats (n = 92) and household cats with outdoor access (n = 7), were collected from March to May 2014 from the Zealand region, Denmark. The sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) was used to isolate helminths and coproscopy was done by concentration McMaster technique (c-McMaster). Overall, 90.1% of the cats were infected and a total of 10 species were recorded by SCT: 5 nematode species: Toxocara cati (84.8%). , Ollulanus tricuspis (13.1%). , Aonchotheca putorii (7.1%). , Paersonema spp. (3.0%). , Strongyloides spp. (1.0%); 3 cestodes: Hydatigera taeniaeformis (36.4%). , Mesocestoides sp. (3.0%). , Dipylidium caninum (1.0%); and 2 trematodes: Cryptocotyle spp. (5.1%) and Pseudamphistomum truncatum (1.0%). O. tricuspis was the second most common gastrointestinal nematode of cats but had the highest intensity of infection. For T. cati, prevalence and worm burden were significantly higher in feral than household cats. No juvenile cats were infected with H. taeniaeformis, and age thus had a significant effect on prevalence and worm burdens of this species. Rural cats had a higher prevalence and worm burden of A. putorii than urban cats. By c-McMaster, ascarid, capillarid, strongylid or taeniid type eggs were found in 77.9% of the cats while Cystoisospora felis was found in 2.1%. The sensitivity of the c-McMaster was 82.5% for T. cati but 26.5% for taeniid eggs, using the SCT as gold standard. A positive correlation between faecal egg counts and worm burdens was seen for T. cati, but not for taeniid eggs (assumed to be H. taeniaeformis). Coprological examination also detected the eggs of extraintestinal Capillariidae species including Eucoleus aerophilus and Eucoleus boehmi, but further necropsy studies are needed to confirm these findings.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalVeterinary Parasitology
    Volume214
    Issue number3-4
    Pages (from-to)327-332
    ISSN0304-4017
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • Parasitology
    • Veterinary (all)
    • Cat
    • Concentration McMaster technique
    • Denmark
    • Helminths
    • Sedimentation and counting technique

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Gastrointestinal parasites of cats in Denmark assessed by necropsy and concentration McMaster technique'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this