Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasites found in cat poop from two shelters in upstate New York
By Lucio-Forster, Araceli & Bowman, Dwight D·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Department of Microbiology and Immunology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of fecal-borne parasites detected by centrifugal flotation in feline samples from two shelters in upstate New York.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that over half of the fecal samples from 1,322 cats in shelters and foster homes in upstate New York tested positive for at least one type of parasite. The most common parasites were Cystoisospora and Toxocara, each found in 21% of the samples. Other parasites detected included Giardia, Aelurostrongylus, and several others, with varying prevalence rates. This highlights the importance of regular fecal testing for cats, especially those in shelters, to ensure they are healthy and to prevent the spread of parasites. If your cat shows symptoms like diarrhea or weight loss, it’s a good idea to discuss parasite testing with your veterinarian.
Abstract
Over a 3.5-year period, fecal samples from 1322 cats from two shelters and affiliated foster homes in upstate New York were processed for parasite detection by both 1.18spg zinc sulfate and 1.3spg sugar double centrifugal flotation. In 50.9% of the samples at least one parasite was detected. Overall, 18 different parasites ranging in prevalence from 0.2% to 21% were recovered. The most prevalent parasites of foster and shelter cats in this study were Cystoisospora species and Toxocara cati (21% prevalence, each). In order of percentage of positive samples, other findings were: Giardia species (8.9%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (6.2%), taeniid eggs (3.9%), Cryptosporidium species (3.8%), Aonchotheca species (3.7%), Eucoleus species (2.3%), Ancylostoma species (2.2%), Cheyletiella species (2.0%), Dipylidium caninum (1.1%), Otodectes species, Toxoplasma-like oocysts and Sarcocystis species (0.8% each), Demodex and Spirometra species (0.4% each), and Alaria species and Felicola subrostratus (0.2% each).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21334238/