Epidemiological studies on ascarid infections in a cat breeding unit

Abstract

An epidemiological survey on the prevalence of ascariasis in a colony of breeding cats at the University of Edinburgh, Centre for Laboratory Animals, was carried out during the period between December 1978 and August 1979.

Routine helminthological techniques were used and egg counts performed. The animals under study comprised a population of 265 domestic cats including 178 adult males and females and 87 kittens.

Results showed that 22 out of 146 faecal samples contained Toxascaris leonina eggs. Isospora felis oocysts were also found in 20 out of the 146 samples, particularly among kittens.

Washings from the floors of the pens, cage washing machine filters and bed trays revealed contamination with ascarid eggs. Experiments on the development of T. leonina eggs showed that when in the artificial medium they developed quicker than in the faeces. Isoenzyme electrophoresis analysis of T. leonina adults using the enzyme glucose phosphatase isomerase showed differences between specimens from dogs and cats, and similarly extracts of T. leonina larvae from cats showed differences from adult worms from the same host species.

Treatment of individual animals with piperazine salts gave better results than treatment in groups.

Despite the prevalence of T. leonina eggs and coccidial oocysts among the samples studied, no significant clinical signs of infection were observed in the animals.

The results are discussed in relation to the epidemiology of the infection and suggestions are made for future control.