Document Type : Research article
Authors
1
Private Veterinary Clinic.
2
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 1221 Giza, Egypt
3
Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71526 Assiut,Egypt. and Department of Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Assiut, New Nasser City, Assiut, Egyp. ORCID 0000-0002-4021-7904
4
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New-Vally University, Egypt.
5
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assuit University, 71526 Assiut, Egypt.
Abstract
Abstract
Cats, as widely embraced companions in diverse environments, face significant health threats due to infection by ectoparasites. The present study investigates the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Giza Governorate, Egypt. Spanning from December 2022 to November 2023, the study included 400 samples of diverse feline populations. Fleas and ear mites were detected in 20.75% and 11.25% of the examined cats, respectively. While ticks and myiasis were observed in 0.5% for each. Clinical manifestations and morphological structures of the detected parasites were documented. Moreover, the research integrates molecular characterization, utilizing the COI gene for Sarcophaga species identification. The study also analyzed risk factors, adjusting for age, sex, and season, revealing variations in infestation rates. Cats under one year old exhibited the highest infestation rate (48.35%). Seasonal variation showed the highest prevalence in autumn, followed by summer and winter, with a decline in spring. This survey study provides valuable insights into ectoparasite infestations in domestic cats to serve as a pivotal step toward promoting cat welfare and safeguarding public health.
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