Norhidayu, Sahimin (2012) Biodiversity and epidemiology study of macroparasites from stray cats in Peninsular Malaysia / Norhidayu binti Sahimin. Masters thesis, University of Malaya.
Abstract
The occurrences of macroparasites from 543 stray cats were studied in four urban cities from west (Kuala Lumpur), east (Kuantan), north (Georgetown) and south (Malacca) of Peninsular Malaysia between May 2007 to August 2010. The hosts were infested with a minimum of one species and a maximum of six species of macroparasites. Of all four locations, Georgetown had the highest species diversity followed by Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan. Five ectoparasites species were recovered namely, Ctenocephalides felis, Felicola subrostratus, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Heterodoxus spiniger and Lynxacarus radovskyi. This study also recorded the dog louse, Heterodoxus spiniger for the first time in Malaysia from two cats in Georgetown. The cat fur mite, Lynxacarus radovskyi also reported for the first time on domestic cats from Peninsular Malaysia. Overall, species diversity of ectoparasites was low compared to previous studies. Similar infestations were observed between males and females meanwhile higher diversity of species richness was observed in adults compared to juveniles. Results showed no significant effect determining the ectoparasites distribution in stray cats population for any of the factors investigated. Up to nine species of helminthes were recovered with overall high prevalences of infection in Kuantan (83%), Kuala Lumpur (75.1%), Georgetown (71.6%) and lastly Malacca (68%). The nine helminthes comprised of six nematode species (Toxocara malaysiensis, Toxocara cati, Ancylostoma braziliensis, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Strongyloides sp., Physaloptera praeputialis), two cestode (Taenia taeniaformis, Dipylidium caninum) and one trematode species (Playtnosomum fastosum). Most helminthes were present in all study sites except for the sole presence of Strongyloides sp. and the absence of Physaloptera praeputialis in Kuala Lumpur. Variation in host age was observed playing a significant role especially for Ancylostoma braziliense and Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Adults were significantly higher compared to juvenile cats, but reversely for Toxocara malaysiensis and Toxocara cati. No significant difference occurred between host sexes meanwhile the season affect was linked with differences in the host population between seasons, with twice as many cats being caught in the dry season, during a period of more active foraging. Pearson‟s product-moment correlation coefficient analysis showed positive co-occurrences have been shown to occur between the four endoparasite species (Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Toxocara malaysiensis and Toxocara cati) occupying similar niches within the alimentary tract of cats. Strong correlation were observed between Toxocara cati and Toxocara malaysiensis (p=0.982), Toxocara cati – Toxocara malaysiensis and Toxocara cati – Ancylostoma ceylanicum (p=0.994) and between Toxocara cati – Ancylostoma braziliense and Toxocara cati – Ancylostoma ceylanicum (p=0.919). In the molecular characterization study, amplification of ITS 1 and ITS 2 regions of Toxocara malaysiensis rDNA was successful using universal Fallas-Kaplan primer with estimated product length 1200bp. Hence, further analysis should be carried out in the future in order to corroborate present results obtained. Lastly, the zoonotic potential of three endoparasite species namely Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Toxocara cati in this study underscores the role of stray cats in Peninsular Malaysia as reservoir host for zoonotic disease. This study also provided a reliable basis for an ongoing monitoring, comparison and assessment of the local cat-borne endoparasites in Peninsular Malaysia.
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