Prevalence of Cystoisospora spp. in Domestic Cats in Mexico |Biomedgrid

Cystoisospora spp. is a parasite with high transmission potential. Among populations of the family Felidae, Cystoisospora felis and Cystoisospora rivolta are the species that affect the domestic cat. Cystoisosporosis is characterized by high morbidity and low mortality; immunocompromised patients experience more severe and prolonged signs. The prevalence of Cystoisospora varies according to the study region; prevalences from 1.4 to 21.9% have been reported in cats within households and up to 46.3% in stray cats. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cystoisospora in cats with owners from different states of Mexico. Fecal samples (n= 927) from cats attending consultation from June to December 2019 were collected. 429 were positive: 13.59% came from kittens (under 6 months old), 9.49% from juveniles (aged 7 to 12 months), and 27.51% from adults (over 13 months). There was a prevalence of 50.59%; risk factors included an outdoor lifestyle, having been adopted, and lack of grooming. These could be associated with coexistence with other cats having access to the outside, the consumption of infected tissues, or contact with contaminated areas, representing the main forms of transmission of this protozoan.