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Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in Danish cats: risk factors and zoonotic potential

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Abstract

Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections are common in cats, but knowledge is limited about their clinical importance, risk factors, and the role of cats as a reservoir for human infections. Here, we collected faeces and questionnaire data from 284 cats from shelters and veterinary clinics in the Copenhagen Metropolitan Region (= study population). Additionally, 33 samples were analysed separately from catteries with gastrointestinal clinical signs (= cases). (Oo-)cysts were quantified by immunofluorescence microscopy. All Giardia (n = 34) and Cryptosporidium (n = 29) positive samples were analysed by sequencing of the 18S rRNA, gdh and hsp70 loci, and co-infections were detected by McMaster/inverted microscopy. In the study population, 7.0% and 6.7% were positive for Giardia and Cryptosporidium respectively; 48.5% and 36.4% of the breeder cats (cases) were infected. Increased odds of diarrhoea were demonstrated in Giardia (p = 0.0008) and Cryptosporidium (p = 0.034) positive cats. For Giardia, the odds were positively correlated with infection intensity. Co-infection with Cryptosporidium (OR 12.79; p < 0.001), parasitic co-infections other than Cryptosporidium (OR 5.22; p = 0.009), no deworming (OR 4.67; p = 0.035), and male sex (OR 3.63; p = 0.025) were risk factors for Giardia. For Cryptosporidium, co-infection with Giardia was the only risk factor (OR 11.93; p < 0.0001). Genotyping revealed G. duodenalis assemblages A and F, and C. felis, all of them previously detected in humans. In conclusion, excretion of Giardia and Cryptosporidium was associated with clinical disease. Although a public health risk is likely, studies including larger sample sizes, more discriminatory markers and samples from other animals and humans are needed to reveal the full zoonotic potential.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Mohammad Nafi Solaiman Al-Sabi, Boi-Tien Thi Pham, Cindy D. Juel and Leif Eiersted for technical assistance. Inges Kattehjem, Kattens Værn, Skovlunde Veterinary Clinic and St. Merløse Veterinary Clinic are gratefully acknowledged for access to cat faecal samples and questionnaire data.

Funding

The study was financed by the National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark. Data analysis and writing of the manuscript was funded by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Heidi L. Enemark, Trine P. Starostka & Birgit Larsen

  2. Department of Animal Health and Food Safety, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, N-0106, Oslo, Norway

    Heidi L. Enemark

  3. Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Birgit Larsen, Nao Takeuchi-Storm & Stig M. Thamsborg

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  1. Heidi L. Enemark
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  2. Trine P. Starostka
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Correspondence to Heidi L. Enemark.

Ethics declarations

The study protocol was in accordance with the Danish legislation (Lov om dyreforsøg/Law on Animal Experimentation, LBK No. 253 dated 8/03/2013, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark), which does not require any approval for collection of faecal samples. It is stated in this directive (Chapter 1, §2, second paragraph) that: Animal experimentation includes any use of animals for scientific or educational purposes likely to be associated with pain, suffering, anxiety or permanent damage equivalent to or stronger than introduction of a needle. This “needle introduction” borderline is not violated by faecal sampling. The questionnaire data were collected prior to the establishment of a research ethics committee (institutional review board) at our university in 2016.

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Enemark, H.L., Starostka, T.P., Larsen, B. et al. Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in Danish cats: risk factors and zoonotic potential. Parasitol Res 119, 2275–2286 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06715-2

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