Table 1.
Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Madeira Island, Portugal, according to the categories of several independent variables
| Variable/category | No. (%) of cats tested | Percentage (n) of D. immitis-positive | Percentage (n) of T. gondii-positive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | 141 (100) | P = 0.654a | P = 0.459b |
| Funchal | 90 (63.8) | 4.4 (4) | 27.8 (25) |
| Otherj | 51 (36.2) | 2.0 (1) | 35.3 (18) |
| Age group | 139 (98.6) | P = 0.322a | P = 0.007c |
| Juvenile [5–11 months] | 39 (27.7) | 0 (0) | 12.8 (5) |
| Adult [1–21 years] | 100 (70.9) | 5.0 (5) | 38.0 (38) |
| Sex | 141 (100) | P = 1.0a | P = 0.067d |
| Female | 64 (45.4) | 3.1 (2) | 39.1 (25) |
| Male | 77 (54.6) | 3.9 (3) | 23.4 (18) |
| Breed | 141 (100) | P = 1.0a | P = 0.247a |
| Mixed | 133 (94.3) | 3.8 (5) | 29.3 (39) |
| Definedk | 8 (5.7) | 0 (0) | 50.0 (4) |
| Fur length | 138 (97.9) | P = 1.0a | P = 0.218e |
| Short | 101 (71.6) | 3.0 (3) | 27.7 (28) |
| Medium | 37 (26.2) | 2.7 (1) | 40.5 (15) |
| Housing | 138 (97.9) | P = 1.0a | P = 0.081f |
| Indoors | 34 (24.1) | 2.9 (1) | 17.6 (6) |
| Outdoors or mixed | 104 (73.8) | 3.8 (4) | 35.6 (37) |
| Clinical statusl | 141 (100) | P = 0.134a | P = 0.705g |
| Non-suspect | 122 (86.5) | 2.5 (3) | 29.5 (36) |
| Suspect | 19 (13.5) | 10.5 (2) | 36.8 (7) |
| Ectoparasiticidesm | 103 (73.0) | P = 0.009a | P = 0.147h |
| Yes | 62 (44.0) | 0 (0) | 25.8 (16) |
| No | 41 (29.1) | 12.2 (5) | 41.5 (17) |
| Macrocyclic lactonesn | 107 (75.9) | P = 0.076a | P = 0.066i |
| Yes | 44 (31.2) | 0 (0) | 18.2 (8) |
| No | 63 (44.7) | 7.9 (5) | 36.5 (23) |
| Total | 141 (100) | 3.5 (5) | 30.5 (43) |
aFisher’s exact test
bχ2 = 0.549, df = 1
cχ2 = 7.189, df = 1
dχ2 = 3.351, df = 1
eχ2 = 1.520, df = 1
fχ2 = 3.050, df = 1
gχ2 = 0.143, df = 1
hχ2 = 2.106, df = 1
iχ2 = 3.384, df = 1
jCalheta (n = 3; 2.1%), Câmara de Lobos (n = 19; 13.5%), Ponta do Sol (n = 4; 2.8%), Porto Moniz (n = 1; 0.7%), Ribeira Brava (n = 4; 2.8%) and Santa Cruz (n = 20; 14.2%)
kPersian (n = 1; 0.7%) and Siamese (n = 7; 5.0%)
lClinical manifestations compatible with cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis and/or toxoplasmosis, comprising: anaemia, anorexia, diarrhoea, dyspnoea, fever, jaundice, pale mucous membranes and vomit
mDinotefuran and pyriproxifen, fipronil and (S)-methoprene, fluralaner, lotilaner or spinosad
nEprinomectin or milbemycin oxime