Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
It is known in recent years that stray cats can transmit several serious zoonotic parasitic diseases to man especially immunocompromised patients.The aim of this study is to detect such parasites in stray cats in Iraq.
METHODS:
Serum and faecal samples were taken from 126 stray cats from different areas of Baghdad, subjected to serological test (IHAtest) and parasitological examination to detect cyst,oocyst,ova of zoonotic arasites ,as well as careful examination of skin and hair for ectoparasites.
RESULTS:
Positive seroprevalence (72.2%) for Toxoplasma gondii were found in stray cats, 114 examined cats (90.4%) were found to be infected with different zoonotic enteric parasites.Three types of ectoparasites(73%) infested these cats..Some of these parasites were recorded for the first time in Iraq which include: Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, Capillaria spp, Toxascaris leonine, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Ixodes spp, Felicola subrostratus .
CONCLUSION:
The high seroprevalence of T. gondii and high infection rates for zoonotic enteric parasites and ectoparasites in stray cats could be the cause of theincreased incidence of human enteric and skin diseases in this country