Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in domestic cats from an urban area in Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2020v41n6p2677

Keywords:

Prevalence, Public Health, Epidemiology, Cryptosporidiosis, Feline.

Abstract

We investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts shedding by domestic cats in an urban setting. The calculation of minimum sample size was based on an estimated prevalence of 10%, 5% absolute sampling error and a 5% significance level, resulting in 138 cats. A total of 612 owners of 2,290 cats had to be contacted for achieving the minimal sample size. In the end, only 55 owners accepted to participate in this investigation. Stool samples collected from 138 dogs were examined by microscopy using modified Kinyoun acid-fast staining, capture ELISA and nested-PCR followed by sequencing. Samples were considered positive when Cryptosporidium were detected by at least two diagnostic methods. Thirteen samples were positive (9.4%; 95% CI: 4.5 - 14.3). Cryptosporidium amplicons from seven out of the 13 samples were successfully sequenced and shared 99% genetic similarity to Cryptosporidium felis, GenBank access AF112575.1 was found. We concluded that Cryptosporidium infection is common in domestic cats from urban area and veterinary practitioners should guide cat owners to adopt preventive measures against the parasite to reduce the chance of infection in cats and householders.

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Author Biographies

Luiz da Silveira Neto, Universidade Federal do Tocantins

Prof. Dr., Curso de Graduação em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, UFT, Gurupi, TO, Brasil.

Giovanni Widmer, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

Prof. PhD., Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, 01536, USA.

Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Profa Dra, Curso de Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Prof. Dr., Curso de Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Sandra Valéria Inácio, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Pesquisadora, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Marcel Gambin Marques, Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos

Prof. Dr., Curso de Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, UNIFIO, Ourinhos, SP, Brasil.

Ana Elisa Gregui Watanabe Marques, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Discente de Mestrado do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Lucas Vinícius Shigaki de Matos, Ipanema Indústria de Produtos Veterinários

Dr., Coordenador de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Ipanema Indústria de Produtos Veterinários, Araçoiaba da Serra, SP, Brasil.

Mariele Fernanda da Cruz Panegossi, Centro Universitário Max Planck

Profa M.e, Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Centro Universitário Max Planck, Indaiatuba, SP, Brasil.

Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária

Profa Dra, Curso de Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

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Published

2020-09-19

How to Cite

Silveira Neto, L. da, Widmer, G., Lima, V. M. F. de, Meireles, M. V., Inácio, S. V., Marques, M. G., Marques, A. E. G. W., Matos, L. V. S. de, Panegossi, M. F. da C., & Bresciani, K. D. S. (2020). Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in domestic cats from an urban area in Brazil. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 41(6), 2677–2686. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2020v41n6p2677

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