title: Prevalence of fleas and gastrointestinal parasites in free-roaming cats in central Mexico.
abstract: The prevalence of fleas and gastrointestinal parasites in free-roaming and domestic cats in central Mexico was evaluated. Three hundred and fifty eight cats captured in the street or brought in by owners to the Animal Control Center Unit, a unit of State Government, from June 2010 to May 2011, were included in the study. All cats were examined for the presence of fleas and gastrointestinal worms. One-hundred and ninety (53%) cats were infested with at least one flea species. Single infestations were observed in 106 (30%) cats and mixed infestations in 84 (23%) cats. Four species of fleas were recovered: Ctenocephalides felis in 53% of the cats, C. canis in 18%, Echidnophaga gallinacea in 7% and Pulex irritans in 1%. One-hundred and sixty three (45%) cats were infected with one or more species of gastrointestinal parasites: 48 (13%) with nematodes, 145 (40%) with cestodes, and one animal presented Moniliformis moniliformis. Prevalences and mean intensity of infection were: Physaloptera praeputialis 7 and 18; T. cati 3 and 2; Ancylostoma tubaeforme 2.5 and 2; Toxascaris leonina 0.5 and 2; Dipylidium caninum 36 and 32; Taenia taeniformis 4 and 3 and Moniliformis moniliformis 0.3 and 106, respectively. There was significant association (P<0.01), between season and ectoparasites load, more fleas were obtained in the summer and autumn than in the winter and spring; however, no statistical difference was observed for endoparasites load (P>0.05). The correlation between the total number of ectoparasites and endoparasites was not significant (r = 0.089, P = 0.094).
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cuerpo Académico Salud Animal y Microbiología Ambiental, Queretaro, Qro, México. gcanto07@uaq.mx
authors.forename: Germinal J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cantó
authors.forename: Roberto I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Olvera-Ramírez
authors.forename: Feliciano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milián
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosqueda
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Tipacamú
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D002589:Cestoda; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D058251:Ctenocephalides; D005260:Female; D058267:Flea Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D059208:Parasite Load; D057805:Pets; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D005423:Siphonaptera; D014119:Toxocara