title: Prevalence of Giardia species in stool samples by ELISA in household cats from Romania and risk factors.
abstract: Stool samples (n=183) collected in Romania from cats of different ages, gender, breed, living conditions and origin were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a commercial kit (Giardia Microwell ELISA, SafePath Laboratories, Carlsbad, USA). Fifty-one cats (27.9%) presented Giardia duodenalis antigens. The prevalence was significantly higher in cats with diarrhoea (32%, 16/50; P=0.04) and in cats from the north-west region (36.7%, 29/79; P=0.05). Young age (up to 6 months) was identified as the risk factor for infection (OR=0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.92; P=0.03). There weren't any significant differences associated with gender, breed, medium, lifestyle, associated parasite infections, anthelmintic treatments, type of food or season.
authors.affiliation: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. mirceanviorica@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Viorica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mircean
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Györke
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jarca
authors.forename: Vasile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cozma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan