Authors : Osama M.E. El-Azazya, Nadra-Elwgoud M.I. Abdou, Qais A.H. Majeed, Amal I. Khalil, Maha K. Al-Batel, Adawia A.M. Hendi and Laila M.A. Tahrani
Abstract: In spite of increasing numbers of stray cats in the streets of Kuwait, little is known about their parasites and the extent of risk they may pose to public health. A survey was conducted to study the endo and ecto-parasites of stray cats from different localities of Kuwait. External surface, blood and different internal organs including hearts, lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal tracts of cats were examined for different parasites. Out of 240 cats examined, 207 (86.25%) were found to be infected with at least one parasite. Parasites identified included 4 cestodes: Diplopylidium nolleri (54.6%), Diplopylidium acanthotetra (45.4%), Joyeuxiella pasquali (38.3%) and Taenia taeniaeformis (0.8%), 7 nematodes: Ollulanus tricuspis (26.3%), Physaloptera gemina (4.2%), Gnathostoma sp. (0.4%), Pterygodermatites cahirensis (34.6%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (1.3%), Toxocara cati (1.3%) and Toxascaris leonina (15%), 4 protozoa: Isospora felis (7.17%), Isospora rivolta (1.6% ), Sarcocystis sp. (0.4%) and Toxoplasma gondii (2.12%) and 2 arthropods: Otodectes cynotis (ear mite) (3.3%) and an Ixodid nymph (hard tick) (0.4%). The effect of demographic factors (age, sex, site and season) on parasitism is discussed.
Osama M.E. El-Azazya, Nadra-Elwgoud M.I. Abdou, Qais A.H. Majeed, Amal I. Khalil, Maha K. Al-Batel, Adawia A.M. Hendi and Laila M.A. Tahrani, 2014. Parasites of Stray Cats in Kuwait: Part I Cestodes, Nematodes. Veterinary Research, 7: 23-33.