Detection of Intestinal Parasites from Household Cats in the Hachinohe Area, Aomori Prefecture

Abstract

A total of 460 household cats aged from one month to 16 years in the Hachinohe area, Aomori prefecture, Japan, were subject to a fecal examination for parasites using a formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. Of the cats, 22.4% were positive for intestinal parasites. The parasites detected and their rates were: Toxocara cati 13.9%, Ancylostoma tubaeforme 2.4%, Strongyloides planiceps 0.2%, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei3.0%, Taenia sp. 2.2%, Isospora sp. 2.0% and Giardia intestinalis 3.3%. The prevalence of T. cati in kittens of one to six months old was higher than that in older cats, while the prevalence of A. tubaeforme, S. erinaceieuropaei and Taenia sp. in cats of two to five years old was higher than that in cats of other ages. The prevalence most of the parasites detected in the present study was higher in cats kept outdoors rather than indoors.