This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in free-roaming cats in southeast Iran, a region with a high free-roaming cat population.
From January 2018 to December 2021, 153 cadavers of free-roaming cats from Southeast Iran were necropsied for intestinal helminth infections. The carcasses were dissected, and the digestive systems were removed. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon were tightly ligated. All adult helminths were collected, preserved and identified.
The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections was 80.39% (123/153). Of the cats from Kerman, 73% (73/100) were infected with at least one helminth, including D. caninum 70% (70/100), T. leonina 8% (8/100) and P. praeputialis 17% (17/100). Concurrent infection with two helminth species was found in 16% (16/100) and of three species infections was found in 3% (3/100) of the cats. Of the cats from Zabol, 94.33% (50/53) were infected with at least one of the helminths, including D. caninum 69.81% (37/53), T. leonina 11.32% (6/53), P. praeputialis 37.73% (20/53) and T. cati 5.66% (3/53). Concurrent infection with two helminth species was found in 28.3% (15/53), and three species were found in 1.88% (1/53) of the cats. Helminth infections were more prevalent in older cats. There was no association between sex and infection rate.
Based on the very high prevalence of zoonotic intestinal helminth infections in free-roaming cats in southeast Iran, the potential public health risk emphasizes the need for intersectoral collaboration, particularly the provision of health and hygiene education to high-risk populations, such as pre-school and school-age children.
目的:本研究旨在确定伊朗东南部自由漫游猫的肠道蠕虫感染的患病率,自由漫游猫数量较多的地区。
方法:从2018年1月至2021年12月,对来自伊朗东南部的153具自由漫游猫的尸体进行了肠道蠕虫感染的尸检。尸体被解剖,消化系统被移除。食道,胃,小肠,盲肠和结肠紧密结扎。收集了所有成年蠕虫,保存和识别。
结果:胃肠道蠕虫感染的患病率为80.39%(123/153)。克尔曼的猫中,73%(73/100)感染了至少一种蠕虫,包括D.caninum70%(70/100),利奥尼娜8%(8/100),普劳迪17%(17/100)。在16%(16/100)的猫中发现了两种蠕虫同时感染,在3%(3/100)的猫中发现了三种蠕虫同时感染。在Zabol的猫中,94.33%(50/53)感染了至少一种蠕虫,包括D.caninum69.81%(37/53),T.Leonina11.32%(6/53),P.praeputialis37.73%(20/53)和T.cati5.66%(3/53)。同时感染两种蠕虫的比例为28.3%(15/53),在1.88%(1/53)的猫中发现了三种。蠕虫感染在老年猫中更为普遍。性别与感染率之间没有关联。
结论:基于伊朗东南部自由漫游的猫中人畜共患肠道蠕虫感染的患病率很高,潜在的公共卫生风险强调了部门间合作的必要性,特别是向高危人群提供健康和卫生教育,如学前和学龄儿童。