Prevalence of endoparasites in northern Mississippi shelter cats

Parasitism of domestic cats impacts feline health and public health, when zoonotic parasites are present. Our objective was to evaluate endoparasite prevalence in cats from northern Mississippi animal shelters. Feline cadavers (n = 56) were collected from seven shelters from August 2017 to January 2018. Data included shelter, sex, reproductive status, intake date, originating source, and treatment records. Cadavers were processed to isolate stomach, and small and large intestines. Contents were strained and examined using stereomicroscopes for helminth collection and identification. Centrifugal flotation using Sheather's solution was performed on feces; urine sediments were also examined. Descriptive statistics in SAS was performed using the Frequency procedure. Kappa agreement statistics were obtained to determine agreement between fecal flotation and necropsy results. Separate logistic regression models were developed to test effects of risk factors on the probability for cats to test positive for outcomes of interest. Helminths were recovered in 82% of cats (46/56); specifically, Ancylostoma spp. (52%), Toxocara cati (43%), Taenia taeniaeformis (36%), Dipylidium caninum (29%), and Spirometra spp. (4%) were identified. Thirty-seven of 56 cats (66%) had parasite eggs or oocysts on fecal examination, including T. cati (39%), Ancylostoma spp. (34%), Cystoisospora spp. (23%), Spirometra spp. (9%), T. taeniaeformis (9%), and capillarid-type eggs (5%). Feline originating source was associated with presence of T. cati eggs in feces and presence of D. caninum in the gastrointestinal tract. Feral cats were more likely to have T. cati eggs in feces than owner surrender cats (OR 28; 95% CI: 1.9, 423), or stray cats (OR 8, 95% CI: 1.1, 57.0). Owner surrender cats were more likely to have D. caninum helminths in the gastrointestinal tract than stray cats (OR = 19.5; 95% CI: 2.0, 190). Toxocara cati exhibited strong agreement (κ = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.89), Ancylostoma spp. exhibited moderate agreement (κ = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.65), and cestodes exhibited poor agreement (κ = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.15) between presence of eggs and gross helminths. Capillarid eggs (Pearsonema feliscati) were recovered in urine sediment of 6% (3/48) of cats. Overall, our study demonstrates a high level of parasitism in cats that entered Mississippi animal shelters. Parasites with zoonotic potential, such as Alaria spp., Ancylostoma spp., D. caninum, Physaloptera spp., T. taeniaeformis, T. cati, and Spirometra spp. were identified. Our results support the need for effective antiparasitic treatment of cats entering animal shelters in order to improve feline health and prevent environmental contamination with zoonotic parasites.