Abstract
The presence of zoonotic parasites in feral cats have been widely considered all over the world. In Gran Canaria (Macaronesian archipelago, Canary Islands, Spain) the number of feral cats has grown out of control in urban and rural areas. 48 of Felis catus captured in different Gran Canaria areas were studied. Animals were necropsied and several organs were systematically examined in order to collect and identify macroscopic parasites. In addition, coprological tests were done in 28 cats. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence rate among sex, age or capture area, showing an overall prevalence of helminths of 77.1%. The most common tapeworms were Dipylidium caninum (64.6%) and Taenia taeniaeformis (31.3%), followed by the nematodes Toxocara cati (20.8%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (18.8%), Aelurostrongylusabstrusus (10.4%) and Truchuris vulpis (2.08%). We also find several eggs of Alaria alata in the small intestine of one cat (2.08%), being the first description of this trematode in cats in the Canary Islands. Aproximatelly, 40% of the studied cats harboured more than one parasite. High rates of zoonotic species found in these animals suggest the need of controling parasitic infections and preventive measures against them.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adams P.J., Elliot A.D., Algar D., Brazell R.I. 2008. Gastrointestinal parasites of feral cats from Christmas Island. Australian Veterinary Journal, 86, 60–63. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00246.x
Anonymous. 2007. Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung Wildschweinfleisch kann den gefa¨hrlichen Dunckerschen Muskelegel enthalten. Stellungnahme Nr.027/2007 des BfR, 1 July 2007. Available at https://doi.org/www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/wildschweinfleisch_kann_den_gesundheitsgefaehrlichen_dunckerschen_muskelegel_enthalten.pdf (accessed 9 January 2013)
Barutzki D., Schaper R. 2003. Endoparasites in dogs and cats in Germany 1999–2002. Parasitology Research, Suppl 3, S148–150
Becker A.C., Rohen M., Epe C., Schnieder T. 2012. Prevalence of endoparasites in stray and forested dogs and cats in Northern Germany. Parasitology Research, 111, 849–857. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2909-7
Berdoulay P., Levy J.K., Snyder P.S., Pegelow M.J., Hooks J.L., Tavares L.M., Gibson N.M., Salute M.E. 2004. Comparison of serological tests for the detection of natural heartworm infection in cats. Journal of American Animal Hospital Association, 40, 376–384
Beugnet F., Bourdeau P., Chalvet-Monfray K., Cozma V., Farkas R., Guillot J., Halos L., Joachim A., Losson B., Miró G., Otranto D., Renaud M., Rinaldi L. 2014. Parasites of domestic owned cats in Europe:co-infestations and risk factors. Parasites & Vectors, 7, 291. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-291
Calvete C., Lucientes J., Castillo J.A., Estrada R., Gracia M.J., Peribanez M.A., Ferrer M. 1998. Gastrointestinal helminth parasites in stray cats from the mid-Ebro Valley, Spain. Veterinary Parasitology, 75, 235–240
Coelho W.M., Amarante A.F., Apolinário J.C., Coelho N.M., Bresciani K.D. 2011. Occurrence of Ancylostoma in dogs, cats and public places from Andradina city, São Paulo state, Brazil. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, 53, 181–184
Coman B.J., Jones E.H., Driesen M.A. 1981. Helminth parasites and arthropods of feral cats. Australian Veterinary Journal, 57, 324–327
Criado-Fornelio A., Gutierrez-Garcia L., Rodriguez-Caabeiro F., Reus-Garcia E., Roldan-Soriano M.A, Diaz-Sanchez M.A. 2000. A parasitological survey of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from the province of Guadalajara, Spain. Veterinary Parasitology, 92, 245–251
Duarte A., Castro I., Pereira da Fonseca I.M., Almeida V., Madeira de Carvalho L.M., Meireles J., Fazendeiro M.I., Tavares L., Vaz Y. 2010. Survey of infectious and parasitic diseases in stray cats at the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 441–446. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.11.003
Dubey J.P., Moura L., Majumdar D., Sundar N., Velmurugan G.V., Kwok O.C., Kelly P., Krecek R.C., Su C. 2009. Isolation and characterization of viable Toxoplasma gondii isolates revealed possible high frequency of mixed infection in feral cats ( Felis domesticus) from St Kitts, West Indies. Parasitology, 136, 589–594. DOI: 10.1017/S0031182009006015
ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites). 2010. Guideline 01 second edition. Worm Control in dogs and cats
Fenoy S., Cuéllar C., Guillén J.L. 1997. Serological evidence of toxocariasis in patients from Spain with a clinical suspicion of visceral larva migrans. Journal of Helminthology, 71, 9–12
Ferreira F.S., Pereira-Baltasar P., Parreira R., Padre L., Vilhena M., Távora Tavira L., Atouguia J., Centeno-Lima S. 2011. Intestinal parasites in dogs and cats from the district of Évora, Portugal. Veterinary Parasitology, 179, 242–245. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.02.003
Genchi C., Kramer L.H., Rivasi F. 2011. Dirofilarial infections in Europe. Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases, 11, 1307–1317. DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0247
Gracenea M., Soledad-Gómez M., Torres J. 2009. Prevalence of intestinal parasite in shelter dogs and cats in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain). Acta Parasitologica, 54, 73–77. DOI: 10.2478/s11686-009-0005-7
Grandi G., Calvi L.E., Venco L., Paratici C., Genchi C., Memmi D., Kramer L.H. 2005. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (cat lungworm) infection in five cats from Italy. Veterinary Parasitology, 134, 177–182
Headley S.A., Gillen M.A., Sanches A.W., Satti M.Z. 2012. Platynosomum fastosum-induced chronic intrahepatic cholangitis and Spirometra spp. infections in feral cats from Grand Cayman. Journal of Helminthology, 86, 209–214. DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X11000265
Jefferies R., Globokar Vrhovecb M., Wallnerc N., Roman Catalanc D. 2010. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Triglostrongylus sp. (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) infections in cats inhabiting Ibiza, Spain. Veterinary Parasitology, 173, 344–348. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.06.032
Jiménez-Millán F. 1959. Contribución al estudio de los helmintos parásitos de los animales domésticos. Revista Ibérica de Parasitología, 19, 25–68
Lee A.C.Y., Schantz P.M., Kazacos K.R., Montgomery S.P., Bowman D.D. 2010. Epidemiology and zoonotic aspects of ascarid infections in dogs and cats. Trends of Parasitology, 26, 155–161. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.002
Millán J., Casanova J.C. 2007. Helminth parasites of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and sympatric carnivores. Journal of Helminthology, 81, 377–380
Millán J., Casanova J.C. 2009. High prevalence of helminth parasites in feral cats in Majorca Island (Spain). Parasitology Research, 106, 183–188. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1647-y
Miró G., Gómez M. 1999. Parasitosis Respiratorias y Cardiopulmonares. In: Parasitologia Veterinária. Editores: Cordero del Campillo, M. e Rojo Vasquez, F.A McGraw-Hill, Interamericana, pp. 696–697.
Miró G., Montoya A., Jiménez S., Frisuelos C., Mateo M., Fuentes I. 2004. Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and intestinal parasites in stray, farm and household cats in Spain. Veterinary Parasitology, 126, 249–255
Mohl K., Grosse K., Hamedy A., Wuste T., Kabelitz P., Lucker E. 2009. Biology of Alaria spp. and human exposition risk to Alaria mesocercariae—a review. Parasitology Research, 105, 1–15. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1444-7
Moks E., Jogisalu I., Saarma U., Talvik H., Jarvis T., Valdmann H. 2006. Helminthologic survey of the wolf (Canis lupus) in Estonia, with an emphasis on Echinococcus granulosus. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 42, 359–365
Montoya-Alonso J.A., Carretón E., Corbera J.A., Juste M.C., Mellado I., Morchón R., Simón F. 2011. Current prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, cats and humans from the island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Veterinary Parasitology, 176, 291–294. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.01.011
Morchón R., Ferreira A.C., Martín-Pacho J.R., Montoya A., Mortarino M., Genchi G., Simón, F. 2004. Specific IgG antibody response against antigens of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont bacterium in cats with natural and experimental infections. Veterinary Parasitology, 125, 313–321. DOI:10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.08.003
Nichol S., Ball S.J., Snow K.R. 1981a. Prevalence of intestinal parasites in domestic cats from the London area. The Veterinary Record, 109, 252–253
Nichol S., Ball S.J., Snow K.R. 1981b. Prevalence of intestinal parasites in feral cats in some urban areas of England. Veterinary Parasitology, 9, 107–110
Overgaauw P.A.M. 1997. Prevalence of intestinal nematodes of dogs and cats in the Netherlands. Veterinary Quarterly, 19, 14–17
Overgaauw P.A.M., Van Zutphen L.V., Hoek D., Yaya F.O., Roelfsema J., Pinelli E., Knapen F.V., Kortbeek L.M. 2009. Zoonotic parasites in fecal samples and fur from dogs and cats in The Netherlands. Veterinary Parasitology, 163, 115–122. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.03.044
Payo-Puente P., Botelho-Dinis M., Carvaja Uruenñ A.M., Payo-Puente M., Gonzalo-Orden J.M., Rojo-Vazquez F.A. 2008. Prevalence study of the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in stray cats of Portugal. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 10, 242–246. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2007.12.002.
Portier J., Jouet D., Ferté H., Gibout O., Heckmann A., Boireau P., Vallée I. 2011. New data in France on the trematode Alaria alata (Goeze, 1792) obtained during Trichinella inspections. Parasite, 18, 271–275
Rentería-Solís Z.M., Hamedy A., Michler F.U., Michler B.A., Lücker E., Stier N., Wibbelt G., Riehn K. 2013. Alaria alata mesocercariae in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany. Parasitology Research, 112, 3595–3600. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3547-4
Robben S.R.M., le Nobel W.E., Döpfer D., Hendrikx W.M.L., Boersema J.H., Fransen F., Eysker M.E. 2004. Infections with helminths and-or protozoa in cats in animal shelters in the Netherlands. Tijdschrift Voor Diergeneeskunde, 129, 2–6
Rodriguez-Ponce, E., Molina, J.M., Hárnandez, S., 1995. Seroprevalence of goat toxoplasmosis on Grand Canary Islands. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 24: 229–234
Saeed I., Maddox-Hyttel C., Monrad J., Kapel C.M. 2006. Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Denmark. Veterinary Parasitology, 139, 168–179
Sánchez S. 2013. Contribución al conocimiento de la parasitofauna (Helmintos y Artrópodos) de mamíferos no lagomorfos de Canarias. PhD University of Barcelona. 425 pp Schmidt GD (1986) Handbook of tapeworm identification. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Segovia J.M., Guerrero R., Torres J., Miquel J., Feliu C. 2003. Ecological analyses of the intestinal helminth communities of the wolf, Canis lupus, in Spain. Folia Parasitologica, 50, 231–236
Shaw J., Dunsmore J., Jakob-Hoff R. 1983. Prevalence of some gastrointestinal parasites in cats in the Perth area. Australian Veterinary Journal, 60, 151–152
Skrjabin K.I., Shikhobalova N.P., Mozgovoi A.A. 1991. Suborder Ascaridata Skrjabin, 1915. In: Skrjabin K.I. (ed) Key to parasitic nematodes. Amerind, New Delhi, pp 423–595
Soriano S.V., Pierangeli N.B., Roccia I., Bergagna H.F.J., Lazzarini L.E., Celescinco A., Saiz M.S., Kossman A., Contreras P.A., Arias C., Basualdo J.A. 2010. A wide diversity of zoonotic intestinal parasites infects urban and rural dogs in Neuque´n, Patagonia, Argentina. Veterinary Parasitology, 167, 81–85. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.09.048
Stojanovic V.L., Foley P. 2011. Infectious disease prevalence in a feral cat population on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 52, 979–982
Széll Z., Marucci G., Pozio E., Sréter T. 2013. Echinococcus multilocularis and Trichinella spiralis in golden jackals (Canis aureus) of Hungary. Veterinary Parasitology, 197, 393–396. DOI:10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.04.032
Taubert A., Pantchev N., Globokar Vrhovec M., Bauer C., Hermosilla C. 2009. Lungworm infections (Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) in dogs and cats in Germany and Denmark in 2003–2007. Veterinary Parasitology, 159, 175–180
Torres, J., Miquel, J., Casanova, J.C., Ribas, A., Feliu, C., Morand, S. 2006. Endoparasite species richness of Iberian carnivores: influences of host density and range distribution. Biodiversity and Conservation, 15: 4619–4632. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-005-5824-8
Traversa D., Di Cesare A., Milillo P., Iorio R., Otranto D. 2008. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in a feline colony from central Italy: clinical features, diagnostic procedures and molecular characterization. Parasitology Research, 103, 1191–1196. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-008-1115-0
Traversa D., Di Cesare A., Conboy G. 2010. Canine and feline cardiopulmonary parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated. Parasites & Vectors, 3, 62. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-62
Vanparijs O., Hermans L., Van der Flaes L. 1991. Helminth and protozoan parasites in dogs and cats in Belgium. Veterinary Parasitology, 38, 67–73
Wolfe A., Hogan S., Maguire D., Fitzpatrick C., Vaughan L., Wall D., Hayden T.J., Mulcahy G. 2001. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Ireland as hosts for parasites of potential zoonotic and veterinary significance. The Veterinary Record, 149, 759–763
Yamaguti S. 1958. Systema Helminthum, vol 1. The digenetic trematodes of vertebrates. Interscience, New York
Yamaguti S. 1959. Systema Helminthum, vol 2. The cestodes ofvertebrates. Interscience, New York
Zajac A.M., Conboy G.A. 2006. Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, 7th edition. Blackwell Publishing; Ames, Iowa, pp. 64
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodríguez-Ponce, E., González, J.F., de Felipe, M.C. et al. Epidemiological survey of zoonotic helminths in feral cats in Gran Canaria island (Macaronesian archipelago-Spain). Acta Parasit. 61, 000 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-00
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-00