Intestinal parasitic infection in multi-cat shelters in Catalonia

© 2017, Israel Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved. The aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in multi-cat shelters and to evaluate facility and the management-related risk factors. The study included adult-cats housed for long periods under two different multi-cat environments: rescue shelters where both dogs and cats were housed and shelters with only cats (cat shelters). A total of 423 fecal samples were collected from 11 rescue shelters and five cat shelters, and examined by coprological examination using a centrifugation-flotation technique with zinc-sulfate solution (ρ=1.18). The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 57% (242/423 fecal samples). The following parasites were detected in the study: Giardia spp. (116/423; 27%), Toxocara cati (71/423; 16.7%), Cystoisospora spp. (67/423; 16%), hookworms (36/423;8.4%), Taenidae (33/423; 7.8%), metastrongilids (20/423; 5%), Toxascaris leonina (10/423; 2.4%), Dypilidium caninum (4/423; 1%), Capillaria spp./Eucoleus aerophilus (2/423; 0.5%) and Spirometra sp. (1/423; 0.2%). T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. were the most prevalent parasites in rescue shelters, whereas prevalence of Giardia spp. was similar in both populations studied. Rescue shelters showed higher prevalence of intestinal parasites than cat shelters (P < 0.05). The facilities and management were similar in both shelter types, and therefore it is hypothesized that the vicinity to dogs in rescue shelters constitutes a stressful factor for cats, potentially predisposing them to a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites.