Pattern and predictive factors of endoparasitism in cats in Central Italy

The pattern of endoparasite infections was examined in 273 cats (181 owned cats, 54 sheltered cats, and 28 stray cats from colonies) by combining results of different diagnostic techniques. Overall, 26.4% of cats harboured one (for 86.1% of positive cats) or more endoparasites including Toxocara cati (12.1%), Cystoisospora felis (2.9%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (2.2%), C. felis/T. cati and Cystoisospora rivolta (1.8% each), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (1.1%), C. rivolta/T. cati, Dipylidium caninum, Eucoleus aerophilus and Toxascaris leonina (0.7% each), A. abstrusus/D. caninum/T. cati, A. tubaeforme/T. cati, C. felis/D. caninum, and Cryptosporidium felis (0.4% each). Tritrichomonas foetus was not detected. In univariate analysis, predictive factors of endoparasitism included being male, intact, less than 1-year-old, stray or owned-outdoor, untreated, and fed occasionally with homemade food. Multivariate analysis showed that males were 4.25 times more likely to be infected if they were less than 1-year-old and 3.21 times if they did not receive periodical antiparasite treatments while females were 10.43 more likely to be infected if showing intestinal or respiratory clinical signs. These data may be of importance for veterinary practitioners to evaluate the occurrence of endoparasitism in cats.