Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and intestinal parasites in stray cats from Nigde, Turkey

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was investigated by the Sabin-Feldman Dye test (SFDT) in 72 stray cats from Nigde, Turkey. A total of 55 (76.4%) of the analysed sera had antibodies to T. gondii. The seropositivity of T. gondii was 77.1% in male and 75.7% in female cats (P>0.05). Faeces of these cats were also examined by zinc sulphate flotation method for the presence of parasite oocysts and eggs of other parasites. Two protozoan parasites were identified as Isospora spp. (12.5%) and Eimeria spp. (4.1%) in cats. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in any faecal samples analysed. Two parasitic helminth species were observed: Toxocara cati (15.2%) and Toxascaris leonina (20.8%). These common ascarids were recorded for the first time in cats from Nigde.