Parasites of Zoonotic Interest Detected in Felis catus domesticus in Midwestern Brazil

Abstract

Interactions between humans and animals can be considerably beneficial to human well-being, and the demand for domestic cats as pets has increased in recent years. Despite these benefits, however, cats may contribute to environmental dissemination of zoonotic pathogens, with potential risks to human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and diversity of feline parasites of zoonotic interest in Campo Grande, the capital city of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Midwestern Brazil, where studies on feline parasitic fauna remain scarce. Fecal samples from 210 male and female cats of varying ages, sheltered at the local Center for Zoonosis Control, were examined. Spontaneous and ether centrifugal sedimentation were used to detect the parasites, found in 149 animals (71.0%), 93 (62.4%) of which were infected with a single parasitic species and 56 (37.6%) with two or more species. Ten parasitic species were detected, where Ancylostoma sp. was the most frequent (65.2%), followed by Platynosomum concinnum (21.0%), Cystoisospora sp. (7.1%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (1.9%), Strongyloides sp. (1.9%), Dipylidium caninum (1.4%), Giardia sp. (1.0%), Toxocara sp. (1.0%), Physaloptera praeputialis (1.0%), and Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%). The results obtained are relevant to human and veterinary public health policies and demonstrate the cats’ role in the transmission chain of parasitic zoonoses, particularly in urban areas. The findings can also serve to raise awareness among veterinarians and cat owners on the importance of preventive interventions to ensure healthier cohabitation with pets by reducing human exposure to cat borne parasites in urban areas.
 
 Keywords: Zoonoses. Felines. Helminths. Protozoa. One Health.
 Resumo
 As interações entre humanos e animais podem ser consideravelmente benéficas para o bem-estar humano, e a demanda por gatos domésticos como animais de estimação aumentou nos últimos anos. Apesar desses benefícios, no entanto, os gatos podem contribuir para a disseminação ambiental de patógenos zoonóticos, com riscos potenciais para a saúde humana. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a prevalência e diversidade de parasitos de interesse zoonótico em felinos de Campo Grande, capital do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, no Centro-Oeste do Brasil, onde estudos sobre a fauna parasitária felina permanecem escassos. Foram examinadas amostras fecais de 210 gatos machos e fêmeas de idades variadas, abrigados no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses local. Sedimentação espontânea e sedimentação por centrifugação em éter foram utilizadas para detectar os parasitos, encontrados em 149 animais (71,0%), 93 (62,4%) dos quais foram infectados com uma única espécie parasitária e 56 (37,6%) com duas ou mais espécies. Foram detectadas dez espécies parasitárias, sendo Ancylostoma sp. o mais frequente (65,2%), seguido por Platynosomum concinnum (21,0%), Cystoisospora sp. (7,1%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (1,9%), Strongyloides sp. (1,9%), Dipylidium caninum (1,4%), Giardia sp. (1,0%), Toxocara sp. (1,0%), Physaloptera praeputialis (1,0%) e Sarcocystis sp. (0,5%). Os resultados obtidos são relevantes para as políticas de saúde pública humana e veterinária e demonstram o papel dos gatos na cadeia de transmissão das zoonoses parasitárias, principalmente nas áreas urbanas. As descobertas também podem servir para conscientizar os veterinários e donos de gatos da importância de intervenções preventivas para garantir uma coabitação mais saudável com animais de estimação, reduzindo a exposição humana a parasitos transmitidos por gatos em áreas urbanas.
 
 Palavras-chave: Zoonoses. Felinos. Helmintos. Protozoários. Saúde Única.

Contribution of ultrasound examination in diagnosing platynosomiasis and correlation with macro and microscopic findings in callitrichids kept under human care

“…This matter deserves attention among non‐human primates kept under human care, given that such events can lead to important losses of animals in conservation, breeding, and research centers 3 . The occurrence of this disease in this area was due to the fact that the environmental conditions and type of installation favored the presence of intermediate and paratenic hosts that were seen being preyed upon by marmosets, along with the presence of definitive hosts (cats) that were transiting the area, which were the likely perpetuators of the cycle 23,24 . It is also worth highlighting the importance of determining the species of Platynosomum through phylogeneticanalysis, as a complementary investigation into other definitive hosts such as felines, which will bring important epidemiological information about the dynamics of transmission between species 15,24,25 …”

“…3 The occurrence of this disease in this area was due to the fact that the environmental conditions and type of installation favored the presence of intermediate and paratenic hosts that were seen being preyed upon by marmosets, along with the presence of definitive hosts (cats) that were transiting the area, which were the likely perpetuators of the cycle. 23,24 It is also worth highlighting the importance of determining the species of Platynosomum through phylogeneticanalysis, as a complementary investigation into other definitive hosts such as felines, which will bring F I G U R E 2 Gallbladder alterations. (A) Gallbladder markedly full of mobile echodense material (bile stasis), showing internal septa and sacculations (arrowheads).…”