Prevalence of protozoa and gastrointestinal helminthes in stray cats in Zanjan province, north-west of Iran

Cats and other felines act as definitive hosts for many intestinal parasites, some of which are responsible for several zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the type and prevalence of protozoa and gastrointestinal helminthes among stray cats. A cross sectional study was conducted. Digestive tracts of 100 stray cats in Zanjan Province, north-west of Iran were autopsied in order to recognize gastrointestinal helminthes and intestinal protozoan parasites. These cats were collected by baited cage trapped from October 2007 to September 2008. Gender and species of helminthes and protozoa were recognized using authentic diagnostic criteria. Statistical evaluation was performed by SPSS version 14. Forty-two percent of cats were infected with intestinal protozoan parasites, 33% were infected with cestodes and 39% infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Four species protozoan parasites and eight gastrointestinal helminthes were recovered from the animals, including Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium spp., Joyeuxiella pasqaulei, Toxocara cati, Phy-saloptera praeputialis, Rectalaria spp., Onicolla, Cystoisospora spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis spp. The high infection rate of Toxoplasma and some gastrointestinal helminthes in stray cats is considered to be critical from the viewpoint of public health importance