PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN DOMESTIC CATS (FELIS CATUS) IN JERE LGA, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in household cats in Jere Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, Nigeria. A total of 102 fecal samples were collected from cats in various locations and analyzed using the Willis-Molley flotation technique, with parasite eggs identified under a light microscope. The results revealed that 17.6% of the cats were infected with gastrointestinal parasites. The most common parasites identified were Ancylostoma spp. (8.8%), followed by Toxocara spp. (3.9%), coccidial oocysts (2.9%), and Hymenolepis spp. (1.9%). Female cats (12.7%) had a higher infection rate compared to males (4.9%), while younger cats (0–6 months) exhibited a higher prevalence (10.7%) than adults (6.9%). These findings underscore the zoonotic risks posed by parasites such as Toxocara cati, which can cause visceral larva migrans in humans, highlighting the importance of targeted control measures. The double infection was observed in two samples (11.1%). In conclusion, we observed a higher occurrence of Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. in fecal samples from sampled domestic cats. The latter is responsible for several zoonotic diseases such as visceral larva migrans and ocular larva migrans caused by infection with T. cati in humans, this is likely to constitute a significant public health risk. It emphasizes that the implementation of appropriate control strategies is required, such as to raise awareness among cat owners about the need for regular deworming and prompt treatment of infected cats. By addressing these knowledge gaps, we can develop effective control measures to reduce the burden of this parasitic infection in feline populations.