Seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii and fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp, and Toxocara catiin feral and pet domestic cats

Abstract
Objective—To compare seroprevalences of antibodies againstBartonella henselaeandToxoplasma gondiiand fecal shedding ofCryptosporidiumspp,Giardiaspp, andToxocara catiin feral and pet domestic cats.Design—Prospective cross-sectional serologic and coprologic survey.Animals—100 feral cats and 76 pet domestic cats from Randolph County, NC.Procedure—Blood and fecal samples were collected and tested.Results—Percentages of feral cats seropositive for antibodies againstB henselaeandT gondii(93% and 63%, respectively) were significantly higher than percentages of pet cats (75% and 34%). Percentages of feral and pet cats withCryptosporidiumspp (7% of feral cats; 6% of pet cats),Giardiaspp (6% of feral cats; 5% of pet cats), andT catiova (21% of feral cats; 18% of pet cats) in their feces were not significantly different between populations. Results of CBCs and serum biochemical analyses were not significantly different between feral and pet cats, except that feral cats had a significantly lower median PCV and significantly higher median neutrophil count.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that feral and pet cats had similar baseline health status, as reflected by results of hematologic and serum biochemical testing and similar prevalences of infection withCryptosporidiumspp,Giardiaspp, andT cati. Feral cats did have higher seroprevalences of antibodies againstB henselaeandT gondiithan did pet cats, but this likely was related to greater exposure to vectors of these organisms. (J Am Vet Med Assoc2004;225:1394–1398)