Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Gastrointestinal protozoa that are commonly reported to cause diarrhea in cats include Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cystoisospora spp., and Tritrichomonas foetus. Even though, Entamoeba spp. is rarely reported in cats, it has been recently identified in the stool samples of the fe...

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Main Author: Tan, Li Ping
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2019
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Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/84399/1/FPV%202019%2011%20-%20IR.pdf
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spelling my-upm-ir.843992021-02-01T03:10:18Z Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia 2019-05 Tan, Li Ping Gastrointestinal protozoa that are commonly reported to cause diarrhea in cats include Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cystoisospora spp., and Tritrichomonas foetus. Even though, Entamoeba spp. is rarely reported in cats, it has been recently identified in the stool samples of the feline species in Malaysia. Toxoplasma gondii is often reported in cats and though rarely causes diarrhea, it can be fatal to cats. Most of these protozoa carries a zoonotic risk as well. Currently, there is a lack of updated information on the current prevalence of these gastrointestinal protozoa in Malaysia. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of these gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in Klang Valley, Malaysia; to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pet and stray cats in Klang Valley, Malaysia; and to investigate the risk factors associated with protozoan infections. 201 fecal samples and 198 blood samples were randomly collected from pet cats presented to University Veterinary Hospital and stray cats from the local council, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. Among the collected fecal samples, 24 were cultured for T. foetus using InPouch® TF Feline, simple fecal floatation was performed on 44 samples, 58 fecal samples were subjected to Giardia spp. antigen chromatographic immunoassay and all 201 samples to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was performed to detect Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Tritrichomonas foetus and Entamoeba histolytica. Indirect-ELISA was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibody in blood samples collected. Samples were then grouped according to their age, sex, breed and management to study the risk factors associated with the gastrointestinal protozoa infection. In general, the overall prevalence in the cat population in Klang Valley was 50% Cystoisospora spp., 7.9% Giardia duodenalis, 10.4% Toxoplasma gondii and 33% Tritrichomonas foetus. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was 5.6% among samples collected. Both Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba spp. failed to be amplified in multiple attempts in our study, thus the molecular epidemiology of these two gastrointestinal protozoa in the cat population in Klang Valley remain unknown. Age, sex, breed and pet cat management showed no significant association with infection with Giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii and Tritrichomonas foetus in cats (P>0.05). Stray cats showed a significantly higher risk for protozoan infection as compared to pet cats (P<0.05). In conclusion, a high prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa was detected in the cat population in the Klang Valley. This is alarming due to the clinical importance and zoonotic risk of the protozoa detected. Animals - Diseases Cattle - Diseases Gastrointestinal system - Diseases 2019-05 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/84399/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/84399/1/FPV%202019%2011%20-%20IR.pdf text en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Animals - Diseases Cattle - Diseases Gastrointestinal system - Diseases Watanabe, Malaika
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection PSAS Institutional Repository
language English
advisor Watanabe, Malaika
topic Animals - Diseases
Cattle - Diseases
Gastrointestinal system - Diseases
spellingShingle Animals - Diseases
Cattle - Diseases
Gastrointestinal system - Diseases
Tan, Li Ping
Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
description Gastrointestinal protozoa that are commonly reported to cause diarrhea in cats include Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cystoisospora spp., and Tritrichomonas foetus. Even though, Entamoeba spp. is rarely reported in cats, it has been recently identified in the stool samples of the feline species in Malaysia. Toxoplasma gondii is often reported in cats and though rarely causes diarrhea, it can be fatal to cats. Most of these protozoa carries a zoonotic risk as well. Currently, there is a lack of updated information on the current prevalence of these gastrointestinal protozoa in Malaysia. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of these gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in Klang Valley, Malaysia; to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pet and stray cats in Klang Valley, Malaysia; and to investigate the risk factors associated with protozoan infections. 201 fecal samples and 198 blood samples were randomly collected from pet cats presented to University Veterinary Hospital and stray cats from the local council, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. Among the collected fecal samples, 24 were cultured for T. foetus using InPouch® TF Feline, simple fecal floatation was performed on 44 samples, 58 fecal samples were subjected to Giardia spp. antigen chromatographic immunoassay and all 201 samples to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was performed to detect Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Tritrichomonas foetus and Entamoeba histolytica. Indirect-ELISA was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibody in blood samples collected. Samples were then grouped according to their age, sex, breed and management to study the risk factors associated with the gastrointestinal protozoa infection. In general, the overall prevalence in the cat population in Klang Valley was 50% Cystoisospora spp., 7.9% Giardia duodenalis, 10.4% Toxoplasma gondii and 33% Tritrichomonas foetus. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was 5.6% among samples collected. Both Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba spp. failed to be amplified in multiple attempts in our study, thus the molecular epidemiology of these two gastrointestinal protozoa in the cat population in Klang Valley remain unknown. Age, sex, breed and pet cat management showed no significant association with infection with Giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii and Tritrichomonas foetus in cats (P>0.05). Stray cats showed a significantly higher risk for protozoan infection as compared to pet cats (P<0.05). In conclusion, a high prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa was detected in the cat population in the Klang Valley. This is alarming due to the clinical importance and zoonotic risk of the protozoa detected.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Tan, Li Ping
author_facet Tan, Li Ping
author_sort Tan, Li Ping
title Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_short Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_full Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_fullStr Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
title_sort prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa in pet and stray cats in the klang valley, malaysia
granting_institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
publishDate 2019
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/84399/1/FPV%202019%2011%20-%20IR.pdf
_version_ 1747813469126656000