ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of enteric zoonotic organisms in cats in north-central Colorado. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Serum and fecal samples from 87 cats with diarrhea, 106 cats without diarrhea, and 12 cats for which fecal consistency was unknown. PROCEDURES: Samples were obtained from client-owned cats and cats at a humane society shelter. Serum was assayed for feline leukemia virus antigen and antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus, IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, and IgG antibodies against T gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum. Microscopic examination of unstained feces was performed after centrifugation in a zinc sulfate solution, thin fecal smears were stained with acid fast stain and examined for C parvum, and bacteriologic culture of feces was used to detect aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. RESULTS: Enteric zoonotic organisms were detected in feces from 27 of 206 (13.1%) cats and included C parvum (5.4%), Giardia spp (2.4%). Toxocara cati (3.9%), Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (1.0%), and Campylobacter jejuni (1.0%); each organism was detected in samples from cats with and without diarrhea. Although differences between groups were not significant, a higher proportion of shelter cats (18.2%) had enteric zoonotic organisms than client-owned cats (10.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Enteric zoonotic organisms were detected in feces of 13.1% of cats, suggesting that cats, particularly those in homes of immunocompromised humans, should be evaluated for enteric zoonotic organisms.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Diarrhea/veterinary , Zoonoses/epidemiology , Animals , Campylobacter Infections/epidemiology , Campylobacter Infections/veterinary , Cat Diseases/microbiology , Cat Diseases/parasitology , Cats , Colorado/epidemiology , Cryptosporidiosis/epidemiology , Cryptosporidiosis/veterinary , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Diarrhea/parasitology , Feces/microbiology , Feces/parasitology , Female , Giardiasis/epidemiology , Giardiasis/veterinary , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Intestinal Diseases/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases/microbiology , Intestinal Diseases/parasitology , Intestinal Diseases/veterinary , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Male , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Salmonella Infections, Animal/epidemiology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiology , Zoonoses/microbiology , Zoonoses/parasitologyABSTRACT
The objective was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum IgG in the serum of cats. The ELISA was an indirect ELISA using soluble C. parvum oocyst antigens and a peroxidase-labeled anti-feline IgG secondary antibody. Sera from cats with Toxocara felis, Giardia spp., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Isospora felis, Isospora rivolta, Toxoplasma gondii, or Taenia spp. infections were assayed in specificity studies. Following optimization, the ELISA and fecal examination for oocysts were performed on samples from 170 client-owned or humane society source cats and 1 cat inoculated orally with C. parvum oocysts. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were detected in feces (4/170; 2.4%), and C. parvum IgG was detected in serum (26/170; 15.3%) from naturally exposed cats. The seroprevalence data suggest that some cats in the geographical area studied were exposed to C. parvum, but persistent oocyst shedding was less common. The ELISA is not useful for predicting oocyst shedding in individual cats.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cryptosporidiosis/epidemiology , Cryptosporidium parvum/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Animals , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cat Diseases/immunology , Cats , Colorado/epidemiology , Cross Reactions , Cryptosporidiosis/immunology , Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification , Feces/parasitology , Prevalence , Specific Pathogen-Free OrganismsABSTRACT
A total of 2,909 bulls was cultured for the presence of Trichomonas fetus at slaughter at 4 abattoirs in Colorado and Nebraska. Samples were collected using the dry pipette preputial scraping technique and were transported to diagnostic laboratories within 24 h. Of the bulls cultured, 5 were positive. The state of the last origin for each animal was Kansas, 1 bull, Montana, 1 bull, Nebraska, 1 bull, and Utah, 2 bulls. These results indicate and incidence of less than 1% (0.172%) of trichomoniasis in the populations tested, even in the states of Colorado and Nebraska where the larger numbers of bulls were cultured.
ABSTRACT
Heartworm antigenemia was evaluated and found to be negative in 1010 dogs in Northeastern Colorado that were examined at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The estimated prevalence of canine heartworm for the native Northeastern Colorado population was determined to be 0.3% and is similar to the prevalence reported 10 years ago in the same area. We conclude there has not been an increase in prevalence of heartworm in the last 10 years; because of the low prevalence, there is no need for routine testing or testing and prophylaxis in the study area at this time.
