title: The prevalence of Trichuris spp. infection in indoor and outdoor cats on St. Kitts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Trichuris spp. and other intestinal parasitic infections in owned cats on St. Kitts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The feces of 41 non-feral cats (23 indoor only; 18 indoor/outdoor) were examined for the presence of Trichuris spp. eggs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine (22%) of the cats were positive for Trichuris spp. Prevalence of trichuriasis in indoor cats was 26.0% as compared to 16.7% in outdoor cats. Other parasites identified included Ancylostoma spp. (10%; 4 cats), Toxocara cati (2%; 1 cat), Platynosomum spp. (22%; 9 cats), Mammomonogamus spp. (2%; 1 cat) and coccidia (7%; 3 cats).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On St. Kitts, indoor cats are as likely to have parasite infections as outdoor cats. Given the zoonotic potential of some of the identified parasites, periodical anthelmintic treatment should be provided to both indoor and outdoor cats.
authors.affiliation: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies. jketzis@rossvet.edu.kn.
authors.forename: Jenifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ketzis
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shell
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chinault
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: Mary Mauldin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology