A cross-sectional study of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in feral and shelter cats in Prince Edward Island, Canada

A cross-sectional study examined the occurrence of Tritrichomonas foetus, and other intestinal parasites, in feral and shelter cats in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Fecal samples were collected from 100 feral cats, 100 cats from the PEI Humane Society, and 5 cats from a private residence. The occurren...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian veterinary journal 2016-03, Vol.57 (3), p.265-270
Main Authors: Raab, Oriana, Greenwood, Spencer, Vanderstichel, Raphael, Gelens, Hans
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Wild - parasitology
Cat Diseases - epidemiology
Cat Diseases - parasitology
Cats
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease Reservoirs - veterinary
Feces - parasitology
Female
Housing, Animal
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary
Male
Prince Edward Island - epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Protozoan Infections, Animal - epidemiology
Scientific
Toxocara
Toxocariasis - epidemiology
Tritrichomonas foetus
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Summary:A cross-sectional study examined the occurrence of Tritrichomonas foetus, and other intestinal parasites, in feral and shelter cats in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Fecal samples were collected from 100 feral cats, 100 cats from the PEI Humane Society, and 5 cats from a private residence. The occurrence of T. foetus, based on fecal culture, was 0% in feral and shelter cats. A single positive sample was obtained from an owned Abyssinian cat that was imported to PEI. Intestinal parasites were identified via fecal flotation in 76% of feral cats and 39% of cats from the humane society. Feral cats had a higher incidence of Toxocara cati than cats from the humane society (P < 0.001), conversely, shelter cats had a higher incidence of Cystoisospora spp. (P < 0.001). These results suggest that while T. foetus is not of importance in feral and shelter cats in PEI, imported cats could serve as reservoirs.
ISSN:0008-5286