Survey of helminth parasites of cats from the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Estudo da helmintofauna de gatos da região Metropolitana de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstracts

Besides presenting zoonotic potential, helminths of cats are responsible for gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary diseases. In order to identify the helminthic fauna, prevalence, mean intensity of parasitism (MIP), and mean abundance population (MAP), 146 cats from the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, Midwestern Brazil, were necropsied. In 98 these animals, 12 species of helminths were identified, comprising (species, prevalence, MIP, and MAP, respectively): nematodes (Ancylostoma braziliense[50,68% - 53,64 - 27,18], Ancylostoma tubaeforme [10,27% - 3,6 - 0,37],Toxocara cati [4,11% - 28,33 - 1,16],Physaloptera praeputialis [2,05% - 6,67 - 0,14], Capillaria feliscati [3,42% - 7,4 - 0,25], and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus[1,37%]); cestodes (Spirometra mansonoides[4,11% - 2,0 - 0,08], Dipylidium caninum[3,42% - 5,2 - 0,18], and Taenia taeniformis[0,68% - 1,0 - 0,01]); trematodes (Platynosomum fastosum [26,03% - 179,53 - 46,73]); acanthocephalans (Centrorhynchus erraticus [3,42% - 3,2 - 0,11]). Ancylostoma spp., and P. fastosum were the most prevalent with the highest MIP and MAP. We observed the presence of species of helminths with zoonotic potential. This is the first time cats parasitized with Centrorhynchus erraticusare reported in the Americas. That genus is commonly observed in wild animals.

Identification; quantification; parasitism; Centrorhynchus; zoonosis; prevalence

Helmintos de gatos são causadores de doenças gastrintestinais, hepáticas e pulmonares, além de apresentarem potencial zoonótico. Com objetivo de identificar a helmintofauna, prevalência, intensidade média de parasitismo (IMP) e abundãncia média populacional (AMP) foram necropsiados 146 gatos da região metropolitana de Cuiabá, centro-oeste do Brasil. Foram identificadas em 98 animais 12 espécies de helmintos compreendendo (respectivamente espécie, prevalência, IMP e AMP): nematódeos (Ancylostoma braziliense[50,68% - 53,64 - 27,18], Ancylostoma tubaeforme [10,27% - 3,6 - 0,37],Toxocara cati [4,11% - 28,33 - 1,16],Physaloptera praeputialis [2,05% - 6,67 - 0,14], Capillaria feliscati [3,42% - 7,4 - 0,25] e Aelurostrongylus abstrusus[1,37%]); cestódeos (Spirometra mansonoides[4,11% - 2,0 - 0,08], Dipylidium caninum[3,42% - 5,2 - 0,18] e Taenia taeniformis[0,68% - 1,0 - 0,01]); trematódeos (Platynosomum fastosum [26,03% - 179,53 - 46,73]); acantocéfalos (Centrorhynchus erraticus [3,42% - 3,2 - 0,11]). Ancylostoma spp. e Platynosomum fastosum foram os mais prevalentes e com maior IMP e AMP. Esta é primeira descrição do gênero Centrorhynchus erraticus de gatos parasitados nas Américas.

Identificação; quantificação; parasitismo; Centrorhynchus; zoonoses; prevalência

Introduction

Pets have socio-cultural importance and the pet-human interaction brings great benefits to human health, but also presents risks of diseases transmission (McNICHOLAS et al., 2005). The role of cats as hosts for endoparasitic infections that are potentially transmitted to humans has been recognized as a significant public health problem worldwide (SCHANTZ, 1994).

Parasites are among the most common causes of gastrointestinal disease in domestic cats (CALVETE et al., 1998), and some helminths present zoonotic potential: infection with migratingToxocara spp. larvae has been associated with two main clinical syndromes in humans (ocular larva migrans and visceral larva migrans) (BOWMAN, 2010); and migration ofAncylostoma spp. larvae are responsible for a linear, tortuous, erythematous, and intensely pruritic eruption of the human skin called human cutaneous larva migrans (BOWMAN et al., 2010). Other organs such as the liver and lungs may also be affected by helminths, and despite not presenting zoonotic potential, they may be a frequent cause of risks to the health of their hosts, especially Platynosomum fastosum, which causes hepatic diseases in cats (FERREIRA et al., 1999; XAVIER et al., 2007), and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, in cardiopulmonary cases (TRAVERSA et al., 2010). Despite the extensive parasitic fauna described in cats (BOWMAN et al., 2002), studies have shown, by examination of fecal samples or necropsies of cats, that parasitic fauna varies across geographical regions according to season, rural or urban areas, and other factors (CALVETE et al., 1998; LABARTHE et al., 2004; ABU-MADI et al., 2008; GATES; NOLAN, 2009).

The objective of this study was to collect, identify and calculate the mean intensity of parasitism (MIP) and mean abundance population (MAP) of the helminthes species found in cats from the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso (MT), Midwestern of Brazil.

Materials and Methods

From August 2010 to June 2011, 146 cats (Felis silvestris catus) from the Zoonosis Control Center (CCZ) from the municipalities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, MT, Brazil were collected and necropsied. These animals were derived from capture in public areas and euthanized according to the protocol of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Guidelines on Euthanasia (AVMA, 2001). As described by Sharif et al. (2007), based on dental development, maturation of genital structure and body size, the specimens were divided by sex and into adult (1.5-3.0 kg) and young (≤1.4 kg) age groups, and then necropsied (UENO; GONÇALVES, 2010). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Research of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (Protocol N^o. 23108.027980/10-8). The sample size was performed using the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites detected in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) by Labarthe et al. (2004) with 95% confidence level and 5% statistical error.

During the necropsy, the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine were individually washed and filtered in 0.15 mm sieve, and examined in stereomicroscope under 10x magnification. The same procedure was used for the liver (gallbladder and bile ducts), pancreas, heart, kidneys, bladder and ureters. The lungs were opened by the bronchial tree for washing the content in the sieve, and later searched for parasites and/or injuries and, in these situations, fragments were subjected to histopathological examination stained by hematoxylin-eosin (BEHMER et al., 1976).

All the helminth parasites found were collected and processed according toHoffman (1987). The identification was carried out following specific keys according to each taxonomic group: Anderson et al. (2009) and Gibbons (2010), for nematodes; Khalil et al. (1994), for cestodes; and Travassos et al. (1969) and Bray et al. (2008), for trematodes. ForCapillaria spp., descriptions by Freitas and Lent (1936) and Moravec (1982) were used. For Centrorhynchus spp., descriptions by Chandler (1925), Kostylew (1926), and Yanchev and Genov (1979) were used.

Prevalence, MIP, and MAP were calculated according to Bush et al. (1997), using the software Quantitative Parasitology 3.0 (RÒSZA et al., 2000). Prevalence and intensity statistical analysis were performed using the methodology of generalized linear models (GLM) and the statistical package R (R DEVELOPMENT CORE TEAM, 2011) by comparing sex groups (male and female) and age (young and adult), as well as the interaction between them. For variable prevalence, a binomial distribution (presence or absence of the characteristic) was used, with the aid of the logistic link function as a linear predictor. For variable mean intensity, Poisson distribution (count of individuals) was used, with the logarithmic link function as a linear predictor.

Results

Of the 146 cats examined, 63 were males and 83 were females, 80 were young and 66 were adults. Overall, 98 (67.12%) animals were parasitized with at least one species of the eleven detected: Ancylostoma braziliense Gomes de Faria, 1910; Ancylostoma tubaeforme (Zeder, 1800); Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) Brumpt, 1927; Physaloptera praeputialis Von Linstow, 1889;Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Railliet, 1898) Cameron, 1927;Capillaria feliscati (Diesing, 1851) Travassos, 1915;Platynosomum fastosum (Braun, 1901) Kossack, 1910;Spirometra mansonoides Mueller, 1935; Dipylidium caninum (Linnaeus, 1758) Leuckart, 1863; Taenia taeniformis (Batsch, 1786) Wolffügel, 1911; andCenthorhynchus erraticus, Chandler, 1925, in a total of 11,129 helminths.

The most prevalent genus (Figure 1) was Ancylostoma spp. (60.96%), with 50.68% speciesA. braziliense and 10.27% A. tubaeforme, infecting 89 animals, with MIP 45.20 (1-1433) and MAP 27.55. Among the groups, prevalence was higher in adults than in young animals (P < 0.01), as shown in Figure 2. There was no statistical difference between males and females. There was statistical interaction between age and sex to the mean intensity of parasitism that was higher in young males, followed by adult females, adult males, and young females (P < 0.001) (Figure 3).

Figure 1.
Prevalence of helminths in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011. p < 0.001. a)Ancylostoma spp.; b) Toxocara cati; c) Platynosomum fastosum; d)Physaloptera praeputialis; e) Spirometra mansonoides; f) Capillaria feliscati; g)Centrorhynchus erraticus; h) Dipylidium caninum; i) Taenia taeniformis; j)Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.

Figure 2.
Prevalence of Ancylostoma spp. in cats according the age group in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011. p < 0.01. A- Adults; Y- Youngs.

Figure 3.
Mean Intensity of Parasitism (MIP) of Ancylostomaspp. in cats according sex and age with statistically interaction on groups of cats in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011. p < 0,001. AF- Adult females; AM- Adult males; YF- Young females; YM- Young males.

Thirty-eight animals (26.03%) were parasitized with P. fastosum showing MIP 179.53 (1-1093) and MAP 46.73. Prevalence was higher in adults than in young animals (P < 0.001) (Figure 4), with no statistically significant difference between males and females. The MIP also presented interaction between the groups, where young females had higher MIP followed by adult females, adult males, and young males (P < 0.001), as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4.
Prevalence of Platynosomum fastosum in cats according the age group in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011. p < 0.001. A- Adults; Y- Youngs.

Figure 5.
Mean Intensity of Parasitism (MIP) of Platynosomum fastosum. in cats according sex and age with statistically interaction on groups of cats in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011. p < 0,001. AF- Adult females; AM- Adult males; YF- Young females; YM- Young males.

Two animals harbored A. abstrusus adults in the bronchial tree, as well as larvae and eggs that were observed in the histopathological examination of the lungs, which also showed inflammatory reaction in the alveoli and eosinophilic granulomas. Due to their small size, eggs in varied stages of development, and larvae found in nests in the lung parenchyma, the count of individuals was not feasible, so the MIP and MAP were not measured.

Five animals were infected by C. erraticus, an acanthocephalan found in the small intestine. The data for other species are presented in Table 1. Statistical comparisons by sex and age group of hosts were not possible for these species, since there were not enough repetitions for a reliable statistical analysis.

Table 1.
Number of infected animals, prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of helminths analyzed in 146 cats in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, from August 2010 to June 2011.

Species	Number of infected cats	Prevalence % (p < 0,001)			Mean Intensity	Mean Abundance
		Mean	Lower	Upper
Nematoda
Ancylostoma spp.	89	60,96	52,82	68,52	45,2	27,55
Toxocara cati	6	4,11	1,85	8,84	28,33	1,16
Physaloptera praeputialis	3	2,05	0,66	6,17	6,67	0,14
Capillaria feliscati	5	3,42	1,43	7,96	7,4	0,25
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus*	2	1,37	0,34	5,3	-	-
Trematoda
Platynosomum fastosum	38	26,03	19,55	33,74	179,53	46,73
Cestoda
Spirometra mansonoides	6	4,11	1,85	8,84	2	0,08
Dipylidium caninum	5	3,42	1,43	7,96	5,2	0,18
Taenia taeniformis	1	0,68	0,09	4,69	1	0,01
Acantocephala
Centrorhynchus erraticus	5	3,42	1,43	7,96	3,2	0,11

• ^*
  There was no counting of individuals, and no measurement of parameters of mean intensity and mean abundance, unviable by histopathological.

Discussion

Similar prevalence of Ancylostoma spp. was reported byLabarthe et al. (2004). Other studies show prevalence rates between 8.8% (SCHUSTER et al., 2009) and 29.3% (CALVETE et al., 1998). Millán and Casanova (2009) found prevalence of 91.4% on the island of Majorca, Spain. The high prevalence is probably associated to the direct life cycle of this genus, absence of intermediate hosts, high biotic potential of the female (200-6000 eggs per day), and the ability of infective larvae promote active infection; moreover, these larvae develop better in tropical areas with sandy soils, where they can find temperatures between 25 °C and 30 °C (BOWMAN et al., 2002). Despite males and females appeared to be equally susceptible to infection, adult animals presented higher rates of infection compared to young animals, although the immune system is completely mature in adults, while it is in formation in young animals (SCHULTZ et al., 2010). Adult animals may have a chronic (compensated) hookworm infection usually without signs, as well as older animals that are more weakened may show a secondary (decompensated) hookworm disease usually associated with malnutrition and immunosuppression (BOWMAN, 2010), which supports the presence of adult animals with high MIP, since most of them were stray animals, nutritionally debilitated and with no preventive anthelmintic treatment (unpublished data).

Bowman et al. (2002) and Sharif et al. (2007) described T. cati as one of the most common parasites of cats around the world, but its prevalence is not always high, ranging from 0.8% (ABU-MADI et al., 2008) to 55.2% (CALVETE et al., 1998). Labarthe et al. (2004) using a methodology similar to the one described in this study, found prevalence of 25.2% for T. cati in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The prevalence found for T. cati in cats in the present study (4.11%) is below the mean prevalence found in other studies.Woodruff et al. (1981) described desiccation and sunlight as factors that decrease the ability of infection of eggs larvae, and these two factors were clearly observed in the areas of this study, which suffers with low humidity, high temperatures and the occurrence of fires, common in the cerrado areas (data not show), especially during the dry season.

Companion animals, including cats, contribute significantly to contamination of the environment through their droppings, deposited in urban areas (ENGBAEK et al., 1984). The occurrence of the species described above, such as Ancylostoma spp. andToxocara sp., which play an important role in public health, show the need to develop control programs aiming to decrease the occurrence of helminths in animals and possible exposure to these zoonotic agents to humans in public urban areas.

Labarthe et al. (2004) and Abu-Madi et al. (2008) presented similar prevalence levels to P. praeputialis. Infections by these worms are often associated with vomiting, and the adults are often viewed during endoscopy (BOWMAN, 2010). Labarthe et al. (2004) reported that its prevalence is probably underestimated, because the embryonated eggs are small, clear and colorless - they are often overlooked in fecal flotation. Except for intermittent vomiting in some infected cats, this parasite is relatively harmless.

Bowman et al. (2010) indicated thatC. plica and C. feliscati could parasitize other parts of the bladder and lower urinary tract of cats, but the felines appeared to bear their usually modest worm burdens without inconvenience. Dantas et al. (2008) showed a clinical case of inferior urinary tract from a feline possibly caused by Capillariaspp., diagnosed by the presence of eggs in its urinalysis. In Brazil, this prevalence is possibly underestimated due to the low occurrence of clinical manifestations and also the methodology used for the analysis of parasite fauna, often focused on the fauna of the gastrointestinal tract (DANTAS et al., 2008).

P. fastosum parasites the bile and pancreatic ducts of cats, having a wide distribution in the Americas and also in Malaysia, Hawaii and West Africa (BOWMAN et al., 2002). In Brazil, Ferreira et al. (1999) showed prevalence of 37.2% in Rio de Janeiro, with sporadic cases of occurrence of the parasite associated with liver disorders (XAVIER et al., 2007; VIEIRA et al. 2009). Furthermore, it should be remembered by veterinarians as a differential diagnosis in cases of liver diseases.

As a common biological feature, all species of tapeworms detected (S. mansonoides, D. caninum and T. taeniformis) require at least two hosts to complete their life cycle, where a suitable definitive host is infected through predation of the intermediate host. Thus, the presence of intermediate hosts is a determinant factor for the maintenance of the population of worms. Climatic and environmental factors can also be suggested to justify the low prevalence, since eggs are poorly resistant to high temperatures and low air relative humidity (CONBOY, 2009). Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of the genus Spirometra, and humans are accidental hosts in their life cycle, while dogs, cats and other mammals are definitive hosts. Sparganosis in humans usually appears as subcutaneous nodules all over the body and can involve the eye, brain, and spinal cord, being characterized as an important zoonotic disease (CHUNG et al., 2012). So far, only four cases of sparganosis have been described in Brazil (states of Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and Santa Catarina) (MENTZ et al., 2011), which leads to believe in the risk of occurrence of this zoonosis in Midwestern Brazil.

Bowman et al. (2002) described three genera of acanthocephalans occurring in cats (Oncicola,Moniliformis and Centrorhynchus) as causes of intestinal disorders. The infection of cats by C. erraticus in this study, despite the low prevalence, reports for the first time its occurrence in cats in the Americas, described only by Chandler (1925) in Calcutta, India, probably as pseudoparasitism. The genusCentrorhynchus was termed by Van Cleave in 1916; presenting a broad variety of hosts like birds, wild mammals and reptiles (RICHARDSON; NICKOL, 1995). Another species of this genus,C. aluconis, was described in cats by Schuster et al. (2009) in Dubai, Kostylew (1926) in Russia, and Yanchev and Genov (1979) in Bulgaria. In Brazil, Stalliviere et al. (2009), through fecal examination, reported only the occurrence of acanthocephalans of the genus Oncicola in cats, with prevalence of 1.4% in Lages, State of Santa Catarina.

Conclusion

This study provides the occurrence of a broad parasitic fauna in cats (Physaloptera praeputialis, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Capillaria feliscati, Platynosomum fastosum, Dipylidium caninum, Taenia taeniformis) potentially pathogenic to these animals, as well as feline parasitic zoonoses, including the etiologic agents of clinical syndromes such as visceral and ocular larva migrans (Toxocara cati), cutaneous larva migrans (Ancylostoma brazilienseand Ancylostoma tubaeforme) and sparganosis (Spirometra mansonoides). Furthermore, it describes for the first time the occurrence of Centrorhynchus erraticus in cats in South America, expanding the distribution of this acanthocephalan to the American continent.

The authors are grateful to CAPES for the scholarship granted to this study; PPGVET-UFMT, for the support for the development of this work; the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of HOVET-UFMT, for the assistance in the histopathological analysis; and the Zoonosis Control Centers of the municipalities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, for providing the samples.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Apr-June 2013

History

• Received
  18 Apr 2012
• Accepted
  3 Dec 2012