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Toxocara cati infections in stray cats in northern Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2007

M. Sharif*
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
M. Nasrolahei
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
S. P. Ziapour
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
S. Gholami
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
H. Ziaei
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
A. Daryani
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
A. Khalilian
Affiliation:
Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, PC 48168-95475, Sari, Iran
*
*Fax.: +98 151 3247106 E-mail: msharifmahdi@yahoo.com

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to study the prevalence and intensity of infection with Toxocara cati in 100 stray cats, from April to October 2004 in urban areas of Sari, northern Iran. A total of 44 cats (44%) were found to be infected with T. cati. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of infection relative to host age and weight (P = 0.000). There was also a significant difference in the intensity of infection relative to body weight and urban sites (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender, urban sites and season (P>0.05), nor in the intensity of infection between host gender, age and season (P>0.05). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 32 worms per cat, with a mean of 7.30 ± 6.82.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 Cambridge University Press 2007

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