Prevalence of chlamydia, toxoplasma, toxocara and ringworm in farm cats in south-west England |
| |
Authors: | P M Gethings G L Stephens J M Wills P Howard A H Balfour A I Wright K L Morgan |
| |
Institution: | Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford. |
| |
Abstract: | The prevalence of infection with Chlamydia psittaci, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocara cati and Microsporum canis was examined in 51 cats on 22 sheep farms in the Bristol area. Serum antibody to C psittaci and T gondii was present in 45 per cent and 47 per cent of cats, respectively. At the time of sampling C psittaci was isolated from 6 per cent of the cats, T cati was identified in 63 per cent of faecal samples but neither T gondii nor M canis was isolated. When examined according to the farm of origin, 22.7 per cent of farms had cat populations with no evidence of infection with C psittaci or T gondii. Of the remainder, 45.5 per cent supported cat populations with evidence of both infections and 31.8 per cent had evidence of T gondii infection alone. None of the farms had cat populations with evidence of C psittaci infection alone. Two of the cats infected with C psittaci were excreting viable organisms in the faeces. The possible significance of this to the epidemiology of ovine enzootic abortion is discussed. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|