Intestinal protozoan parasites in shelter and stray cat (Felis catus) population in Penang Island, Malaysia
2020
Sophie Jade D. | Jalilatul Nikdar M. | Farah Haziqah M. T.
A study was conducted to determine the occurrence and species diversity of protozoan parasites that was shed by domestic cats into the environment in the northern region of peninsular Malaysia. A total of 91 fresh cat faecal samples were collected randomly from 32 stray cats and 59 shelter-owned cats around Penang island, Malaysia. The collected faecal samples were then examined for the presence of intestinal protozoan parasites by microscopic examination prior to faecal floatation method and in vitro cultivation technique. The prevalence of cats shedding intestinal protozoan parasites was generally low with 14.3% (13/91) namely, Cystoisospora spp. (syn. Isospora spp.). Two species of Cystoisospora spp. were identified as C. felis (6.6%) and C. rivolta (7.7%). However, none of the faecal samples were found to be positive for zoonotic protozoan parasite, Blastocystis sp., prior to the cultivation method. Determining the status of intestinal parasitic diseases in the cat population is crucial not only to formulate appropriate control strategies but also to envisage the risk to considered groups.
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