Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Prevalence and Pathology of Arthropod Infestation in Domestic and Stray Cats in Bangladesh

S.A. Rahman
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

M. J. Islam
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

N. Begum
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

M.A. Ali
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

A.S.M. Bari
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study was designed to determine the prevalence and pathology of potential arthropods of the domestic and stray cats (Felis catus) that had not received veterinary care and had no known exposure to insecticide application and other form of medication. In doing so, 36 domestic and stray cats were taken from Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. The research work was carried out during the period of July 2006 to June 2007 in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. In the 36 examined cats, overall 32 (88.89 %) cats had arthropod infestation. The rate of infestation was Ctenocephalides felis felis, 86% (31 out of 36), Demodex cati, 11% (4 out of 36) and Linguatula serrata, 14 % (5 out of 36). Slightly higher rate of Ct. felis felis infestation was found in kittens (90%) followed by adults (84.61%). There was similar age prevalence of D. cati and L. serrata infection in kittens and adults. Females (90%) were 2.07 times more susceptible to Ct. felis felis infestation than males (81.25%). The rate of arthropod infection did not vary greatly over seasons. But in L. serrata infection, there was higher prevalence in summer (27.27%) than rainy (11.11%) and winter (6.25%) seasons. Grossly, demodectic mange was characterized by alopecia, epidermal scaling, scab formation and denudation of the skin mostly found in the ear and the neck. The legs and the abdomen were also affected. At histopathology, sections of mite were found in the hair follicles of the skin along with folliculitis (two cases). Pneumonia was found both grossly and microscopically in lungs of five cats but it was very difficult to correlate with the presence of small number of L. serrata organisms.

Keywords: Arthropod, Prevalence, Pathology, Domestic, Stray cat

Location: Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-07-2006

End Date: 00-06-2007

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Cat

Objectives:

To find out the occurrence of arthropods in relation to their age, sex, and season and to show the gross and microscopic changes produced by the parasites.

Methodology:

The study was carried out from July, 2006 to June, 2007 in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. A total of 36 domestic and stray cats (indigenous breed) were collected from Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. The experiment was based on direct examination of the skin, skin scrapings, fecal, autopsy and histopathological examination. Ectoparasites were collected by hand picking and by using tools. In case of fleas, a flea comb and in case of lice a brush and a lice comb were used. Skin scrapings were taken from the suspected areas by using glycerinized scalpel until oozing for recovery of mites. The scrapings were boiled gently by adding 10% potassium hydroxide and examined under microscope using 10x magnification (Hendrix and Robinson, 2006). Fecal samples (10-15g) were taken from freshly voided fecal pad early in the morning. Fecal examinations were performed by following direct smear and concentration techniques (Soulsby, 1982). The respiratory tracts of dead or euthanized cats were examined thoroughly for detection of gross lesions and collection of parasites. The collected arthropod parasites were preserved in glycerin alcohol in separate vials for each host. Permanent slides of arthropods were prepared according to the procedure described by Cable (1957). Arthropods were identified by using keys and description given by Soulsby (1982) and Wall and Shearer (1997). The skin of the cats was examined thoroughly for gross lesions. Suspected parts of the skin and respiratory tracts were collected. The collected parts were sent for histopathological study as per standard method (Luna, 1968). The prevalence of ectoparasites was computed by using formula described by Thrushfield (1995). Odds ratio was calculated by using formula given by Schlesselman (1982).

Source of Information: Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2009). 7(1) : 287 – 292

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall 32 (out of 36) cats (88.89%) were infected with one or two or three species of arthropods. This finding is in conformity with earlier finding of Akucewich et al. (2002) in the USA who found 92.5% flea infestation in cats. On the other hand, Rataj et al. (2004) in Slovenia documented 34. 65% cats were infested with mites and lice. In this study, recorded species were Ct. felis felis (86%), D. cati (11%) and L. serrata (14%). These findings are similar to that of Cruz et al. (2001) in Mexico, Visser et al. (2001) in Germany and Koutinas et al. (1995) who recorded 92.3%, 91.6%, and 97.4% Ct. felis felis infestation respectively in cats. On the other hand, Shaikh and Huq (1984) in Bangladesh and Coman et al. (1981) in Australia detected 51.4% and 16% prevalence of Ct. felis respectively in cats. A few data is available to explain the prevalence of Demodex sp. infection in cats. However, Samad et al. (1979) found demodectic mange in cattle in Bangladesh. Vecchio and Abramo (1999) reported D. cati in a cat from Italy. On the other hand, Sotiraki et al. (2001) found no D. cati from 161 cats in Greece. In case of L. serrata infection, Altas and Tasan (1999) found 1.43% prevalence of L. serrata in cats from Turkey. Rahman et al. (1971) found 45% prevalence of L. serrata from dogs in Bangladesh. L. serrrata nymph from cattle and goats of Bangladesh was recorded by Rahman et al. (1980). Immature linguatulosis in a Murrah buffalo was reported from Bangladesh by Chowdhury and Dewan (1967). Soulsby (1982) stated that animals having poor condition or chronic debilitating disease are more susceptible to flea infestation. Vecchio and Abramo (1999) found D. cati infection in a cat with feline immunodeficiency virus in Italy. In this experiment, the collected cats had poor health. So overall higher rate of infection could be due to poor health, poor hygienic condition, immunosuppressive diseases, breed of cats, environmental factors and method of study. In fecal examinations, egg of L. serrata was not found. According to Hobmaeir and Hobmaier (1940), the eggs do not appear in the feces of the dog but instead are found in the nasal secretions. The possibility that the eggs of small number of Linguatula organisms were not shed in the feces of the cats. This aspect requires additional verification.

Knowledge Management: Journal