Abstract
Ectoparasites are capable of transmitting infectious diseases and, therefore, are of zoonotic concern. Cats submitted to a spay/neuter program in the city of Rio de Janeiro were examined to determine the distribution of ectoparasites in cats from a city with a tropical climate. Independent of gender, breed, or age, 292 cats were combed and subjected to otoscopic examination. Ectoparasites were collected, and blood samples were taken to determine packed cell volume. The majority of the 292 cats were female (71%), and most of them were categorized as domestic short hair cats (92%). Different species of ectoparasites that produced both single agent and multi-agent infestations were detected in these cats. Most cats were infested by Ctenocephalides felis (60%); however, other ectoparasites were found to a lesser degree in the sampled population (Felicola subrostratus (5.4%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.4%), Lynxacarus radovskyi (1%), and Otodectes cynotis (6.2%)). Within the infested cats, 16.3% were also anemic, and there was a significant association between the occurrence of anemia and flea infestation. Of all sampled cats, 65% were infested by at least one species of ectoparasites, which suggests both a heavy infestation of the environment and owner negligence. Ectoparasites are not only nuisances to both cats and owners, but they are also significant carriers of disease. Therefore, the implementation of rigorous, safe preventive measures is of great importance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akucewich LH, Philman K, Clark A, Gillespie J, Kunkle G, Nicklin CF, Greiner EC (2002) Prevalence of ectoparasites in a population of feral cats from north central Florida during the summer. Vet Parasitol 109:129–139
Amaral RC, Ibañez JF, Mamizuca EM, Gambale W, Paula CR, Larsson CE (1998) Microbiota indígena do meato acústico externo de gatos hígidos. Ciênc Rural 28:4441–4445
Arther RG (2009) Mites and lice: biology and control. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 39:1159–1171
Case JB, Chomel B, Nicholson W, Foley JE (2006) Serological survey of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in pet cats and cats from animal shelters and feral colonies. J Feline Med Surg 8:111–117
Chomel B, Artz J (2000) Dogs and bacterial zoonoses In: Macpherson F, Meslin F, Wanderler, A (eds) Dogs, Zoonoses and Public Health, Cabi, pp 91–113
Dryden MW, Gaafar SM (1991) Blood consumption by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). J Med Entomol 28:394–400
Dryden MW, Payne PA (2004) Biology and control of ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America. Vet Ther 5:139–154
Estrada-Peña A, Jongejan F (1999) Ticks feeding on humans: a review of records on human-biting Ixodoidea with special reference to pathogen transmission. Exp Appl Acarol 23:685–715
Faustino MAG, Messias JB, Romeiro ET (2004) Infestação por Lynxacarus radovskyi (Tenorio, 1974) em felinos—revisão. Revista Clín Vet 53:52–56
Ferreira CG, Bezerra ACDS, Filgueira KD, Ahid SMM (2009) Levantamento de ectoparasitas de cães e gatos provenientes do município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Pubvet 3:549–556
Foil L, Andress E, Freeland RL, Roy AF, Rutledge R, Triche PC, O’Reilly KL (1998) Experimental infection of domestic cats with Bartonella henselae by inoculation of Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) feces. J Med Entomol 35:625–628
Gleich S, Hartmann K (2009) Hematology and serum biochemistry of feline immunodeficiency virus-infected and feline leukemia virus-infected cats. J Vet Intern Med 23:552–558
Greene CE (2006) Environmental factors in infectious disease. In: Greene CE (ed) Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. Saunders Elsevier, Missouri, pp 991–1013
Guaguère E (1999) Ectoparasitic skin diseases. In: Guaguère E, Prélaud PA (eds) Practical Guide to Feline Dermatology, Merial, pp 3.1–3.14
Harvey JW (2006) Hemotrophic mycoplasmosis (Hemobartonellosis). In: Greene CE (ed) Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. Saunders Elsevier, Missouri, pp 252–260
Ihrke PJ (2006) Integumentary infections. In: Greene CE (ed) Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. Saunders Elsevier, Missouri, pp 807–823
Labruna MB (2004) Biologia-ecologia de Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari:Ixodidae). Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 13(supl I):123–124
Mendes-de-Almeida F, Labarthe N, Guerrero J, Faria MCF, Branco AS, Pereira CD, Barreira JD, Pereira MJS (2007) Follow-up of the health conditions of an urban colony of free-roaming cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vet Parasitol 147:9–15
Moriello KA (1994) Diseases of the skin. In: Sherding RG (ed) The cat: diseases and clinical management. Saunders, New York, pp 1907–1969
Naoyuki I, Sayako I (2002) Prevalence of Otodectes cynotis infestation in household cats. J Japan Vet Med Assoc 55:155–158
Romeiro ET, Faustino MAG, Alves LC, Soares YM, Faustino MAG (2007) Aspectos clínicos da infestação por Lynxacarus radovskyi em gatos procedentes da Região Metropolitana do Recife. Revista Clín Vet 69:108–113
Rust MK, Dryden MW (1997) The biology, ecology, and management of the cat flea. Annu Rev Entomol 42:451–473
Schwassman M, Logas D (2010) How to treat common parasites safely. In: August JR (ed) Consulations in feline internal medicine. Saunders Elsevier, Missouri, pp 390–398
Scott DW, Miller WH, Griffin CE (2001) Parasitic skin diseases. In: Muller and Kirk’s small animal dermatology (eds), Saunders, Philadelphia, p 451
Sotiraki ST, Koutinas AF, Leontides LS, Adamama-Moraitou KK, Himonas CA (2001) Factors affecting the frequency of ear canal and face infestation by Otodectes cynotis in the cat. Vet Parasitol 96:309–315
Vobis M, D’Haese J, Mehlhorn H, Mencke N (2003) Evidence of horizontal transmission of feline leukemia virus by the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Parasitol Res 91:467–470
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mendes-de-Almeida, F., Crissiuma, A.L., Gershony, L.C. et al. Characterization of ectoparasites in an urban cat (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) population of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Parasitol Res 108, 1431–1435 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2189-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2189-z