Abstract
The population of domesticated cats has drastically increased during the last decades. With the recently identified rise in cat population an upsurge in the parasitic infections associated with domestic cats is evident. A total of 122 domestic cats were screened for gastro-intestinal and haemoparasites. Screening for gastro-intestinal parasites revealed an overall prevalence of 19 per cent (23/122). Ancylostoma spp. was the major gastro-intestinal parasite noticed (61 per cent) followed by Toxocara cati (13.04 per cent), Isospora spp. (8.7 per cent), Diphyllobothrium latum (4.35 per cent) and mixed infection of these (13 per cent). Blood smear examination revealed Cytauxzoon spp. in three cats (2.46 per cent) and Babesia spp. in two cats (1.6 per cent). None of the cats were positive for gamonts of Hepatozoon spp. Molecular analysis revealed Hepatozoon spp. infection in seven cats (5.7 per cent), Cytauxzoon spp. in 29 cats (23.8 per cent) and Babesia spp. in two cats (1.6 per cent). Present study highlights the inevitability of molecular techniques in the identification of haemoparasites. Establishment of proper preventive measures are required to control parasitic infection among domestic cats.
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Acknowledgements
This paper is a part of MVSc. Thesis submitted to The Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The authors would like to acknowledge the Dean, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy for providing the financial support required during the study. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
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The financial support for undertaking the study was provided by the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
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The experimental study, data collection, data interpretation and analysis as well as drafting of the manuscript were done by Dr. PV. The design of the study, data analysis, drafting and thorough revision of the manuscript were done by Prof. PVT.
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The Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University approved the conducted study.
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Vincy, P., Tresamol, P.V. Prevalence of gastro-intestinal and haemoparasitic infections among domestic cats of Kerala. J Parasit Dis 47, 562–565 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01599-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-023-01599-2