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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery logoLink to Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
. 2009 Oct 1;11(10):803–807. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.02.001

Observed occurrence of Tritrichomonas foetus and other enteric parasites in Australian cattery and shelter cats⋆

Sally A Bissett 1, Maria L Stone 2, Richard Malik 3, Jacqueline M Norris 4, Carolyn O'Brien 5, Caroline S Mansfield 6, Julia M Nicholls 7, Alison Griffin 8, Jody L Gookin 9
PMCID: PMC11135510  PMID: 19285895

Abstract

Cattery-housed pedigree cats, located mostly within the USA, have the highest reported prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus (T foetus) to date. This prospective, multi-institutional, cross sectional study examines the occurrence of T foetus and other enteric parasites in cattery-housed and shelter cats within Australia, where T foetus has only recently been identified. Faecal specimens were collected from 134 cats, including 82 cattery-housed pedigree cats and 52 shelter cats. Faecal examinations performed for most cats included concentration techniques, Snap Giardia test, culture in InPouch medium, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of T foetus ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) genes using species-specific primers. Observed occurrence of T foetus, Giardia species, Isospora species and Toxascaris leonina for cattery-housed cats (and catteries) were 0%, 7.4 (13.8)%, 10.9 (22.6)% and 1.6 (3.2)%, respectively. Observed occurrence of T foetus, Giardia species, Isospora species and hookworms for shelter cats were 0%, 11.5%, 9.8% and 4.9%, respectively. These results suggest the prevalence of T foetus in cattery-housed cats is currently much lower in Australia than in the USA, while Isospora and Giardia species infections are common.

Contributor Information

Sally A. Bissett, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh NC 27606, USA  sally_bissett@ncsu.edu

Maria L. Stone, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh NC 27606, USA

Richard Malik, Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

Jacqueline M. Norris, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Carolyn O'Brien, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee 3030, Australia.

Caroline S. Mansfield, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, WA 6150, Australia

Julia M. Nicholls, Prospect Road Veterinary Hospital, 318 Prospect Rd, Adelaide, SA 5082, Australia

Alison Griffin, Queensland Veterinary Specialists, 263 Appleby Rd, Stafford Heights, QLD 4053, Australia.

Jody L. Gookin, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh NC 27606, USA

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