Seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara cati in feral and pet domestic cats.
OBJECTIVE
To compare seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara cati in feral and pet domestic cats.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional serologic and coprologic survey.


METHODS
100 feral cats and 76 pet domestic cats from Randolph County, NC.


METHODS
Blood and fecal samples were collected and tested.


RESULTS
Percentages of feral cats seropositive for antibodies against B. henselae and T. gondii (93% and 63%, respectively) were significantly higher than percentages of pet cats (75% and 34%). Percentages of feral and pet cats with Cryptosporidium spp (7% of feral cats; 6% of pet cats), Giardia spp (6% of feral cats; 5% of pet cats), and T. cati ova (21% of feral cats; 18% of pet cats) in their feces were not significantly different between populations. Results of CBCs and serum biochemical analyses were not significantly different between feral and pet cats, except that feral cats had a significantly lower median PCV and significantly higher median neutrophil count.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggested that feral and pet cats had similar baseline health status, as reflected by results of hematologic and serum biochemical testing and similar prevalences of infection with Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and T. cati. Feral cats did have higher seroprevalences of antibodies against B. henselae and T. gondii than did pet cats, but this likely was related to greater exposure to vectors of these organisms.
Nutter
Felicia B
FB
Environmental Medicine Consortium and Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
Dubey
J P
JP
Levine
Jay F
JF
Breitschwerdt
Edward B
EB
Ford
Richard B
RB
Stoskopf
Michael K
MK
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan