39 Tropical Biomedicine 24(2): 39–43 (2007) Prevalence of Toxocara cati and other intestinal helminths in stray cats in Shiraz, Iran Mohammad Zibaei 1 *, Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi 1 and Bahador Sarkari 2 1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran. Email: zibaeim@ sums.ac.ir Received 23 April 2007; received in revised form 8 May 2007; accepted 10 May 2007 Abstract. Toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution that affects both cats and dogs. Necropsy of 114 stray cats from Shiraz revealed that 106 (92.9%) stray cats were infected at least with one of the intestinal helminth species. The overall infection rates in stray cats infected with cestoda and nematoda were 105(99.1%) and 101(95.3%) respectively. The detected cestodes were Joyeuxiella pasqualei (34.3%), Dipylidium caninum (49.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (12.3%), Spirometra sp. (3.8%) and the detected nematodes were Physaloptera sp. (44.6%), Toxocara cati (42.6%) and Toxascaris leonina (12.9%). The study revealed that T. cati was one of the most frequently detected intestinal helminths, which is an important source of zoonotic helminths. INTRODUCTION Cats and other felines act as definitive hosts for many intestinal parasites, some of which are responsible for several zoonotic diseases such as toxocariasis. It is caused by the ascarids of dogs and cats: Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, respectively (Schantz, 1989; Despommier, 2003). The close association between cats and humans is responsible for the high endemicity of some of these zoonotic diseases (Overgaauw, 1997). The cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans have been identified in the intestine of stray and pet cats in various countries. Transmission of certain helminth parasites of carnivores to domestic animals and man causes economic problems and public health hazards (Dalimi & Mobedi, 1992). Therefore, the study of the parasite fauna of carnivores such as stray cats in various areas of countries is necessary for control of disease. In Iran cats roam freely and can contaminate the environment by discharging helminth eggs and protozoan cysts. In Shiraz, southern Iran, the intestinal helminthic fauna of cats and other felines has received little attention. So, this study was conducted to elucidate T. cati and the helminthic status of stray cats collected from different areas of Shiraz city, southern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples collection In a cross-sectional study from March 2005 to November 2006, a total of 114 stray cats were randomly collected from various residential areas of Shiraz, southern Iran. Parasitological examination Stray cats were caught and moved to an animal laboratory autopsy room for necropsy. After sedation and euthanasia with thiopental, the gastrointestinal tract from the pylorus to the caecum, was removed and collected in a glass dish. Each intestine was cut longitudinally and soaked in phosphate