Hemoparasites in domestic cats from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil: positivity and epidemiological factors
Hemoparasitosis in cats (Felis catus) is caused by protozoan and bacterial agents, primarily transmitted by fleas or ticks. This study was performed to evaluate the presence of hemoparasites in domestic cats from the urban region of Uberlândia (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and associate positivity w...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidade Federal de Goiás
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ciência Animal Brasileira |
| Online Access: | https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/79859 |
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| Summary: | Hemoparasitosis in cats (Felis catus) is caused by protozoan and bacterial agents, primarily
transmitted by fleas or ticks. This study was performed to evaluate the presence of hemoparasites in
domestic cats from the urban region of Uberlândia (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and associate positivity
with epidemiological variables. Blood samples and data were collected from 300 cats. Blood was
obtained from the ear tip, and two blood smears were prepared for each animal. Information on sex,
breed, age, origin, habitat, access to external environments, presence of ectoparasites, diet, and region
of origin was also gathered. In the blood smears, the positivity rates were 3.66% for Babesia spp., 5.33%
for Ehrlichia spp., and 1.33% for Mycoplasma spp. Concomitant infections were observed between
Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. (0.66%) and Babesia spp. and Mycoplasma spp. (0.33%). Habitat, access
to external environments, and region of origin were identified as significant factors for the occurrence
of hemoparasitosis. Although most sampled cats lived in houses (66.66%), the majority had free access
to outdoor areas (81.00%), increasing their exposure to ectoparasites and, consequently, hemoparasites.
Among the city’s regions, the highest positivity rate (3.33%) was observed in the east, potentially linked
to the lower likelihood of guardians in this area keeping their cats strictly indoors, likely influenced by
socioeconomic and cultural factors.
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| ISSN: | 1518-2797 1809-6891 |