Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Intestinal parasites found in household cats in Japan
By Itoh, Naoyuki et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites in private-household cats in Japan.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that about 10% of household cats in Japan had intestinal parasites, including Giardia and several types of worms. Kittens under 6 months old were more likely to be infected than older cats, especially with certain parasites. Outdoor cats also had higher rates of infection compared to those kept indoors. The researchers noted that the sex of the cat and the condition of their stool didn't seem to affect the likelihood of having parasites. If you're concerned your cat might have parasites, it's a good idea to talk to your vet about testing and treatment options.
Abstract
The present study is the first national investigation of intestinal parasites in private-household cats in Japan. A total of 942 faecal samples were collected from private-household cats. Giardia species was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and other intestinal parasites were identified microscopically. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 10.1%; two protozoan parasites (Giardia species and Cystoisospora species) and five helminths (Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Taenia species and Spirometra erinacei) were detected. The total prevalence of intestinal parasite infection was significantly higher in cats aged ≤ 6 months old than in cats older than 6 months because of a significantly higher prevalence of Cystoisospora species and T cati. The total infection prevalence was higher among outdoor cats as a result of the significantly higher prevalence of T cati and S erinacei. Sex and faecal condition were not related to intestinal parasite infections. Regional differences were observed in Cystoisospora species and A tubaeforme.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22467797/