SHORT COMMUNICATION Urban stray cats infested by ectoparasites with zoonotic potential in Greece Menelaos A. Lefkaditis 1 & Anna V. Sossidou 2 & Alexandros H. Panorias 2 & Smaragda E. Koukeri 2 & Anamaria I. Paştiu 3 & Labrini V. Athanasiou 4 Received: 2 August 2015 /Accepted: 19 August 2015 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Abstract A large population of stray cats is encountered in many urban areas sharing the same environment with people, usually being in a close direct contact with them. A variety of ectoparasites can infest such cats, causing mild dermatological abnormalities to more severe systemic disorders. In order to determine the extent of which stray cats carry ectoparasites, particularly those of zoonotic potential, 341 stray cats origi- nating from the urban area of Thessaloniki, Greece, were ex- amined between 2012 and 2014. The signalment of each cat such as gender, hair length, and roughly estimated age were recorded. From a total of 341 examined stray cats, 127 (37.24 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 32.14–42.64) were infested with at least one of the following ectoparasites: mites—Otodectes cynotis (15.8 %), Notoedres cati (2.35 %), Cheyletiella blakei (2.05 %); fleas—Ctenocephalides felis (24.3 %); ticks—Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.88 %); and lice—Felicola subrostratus (0.59 %). A significantly higher prevalence of ectoparasites was observed in long-haired indi- viduals (p <0.00001). The above ectoparasites may either cause or transmit diseases not only in cats but also in humans Therefore, antiparasitic control should be included in stray cat neutering campaigns while public health education for taking preventive measures will decrease the risk of transmission to humans. Keywords Stray cats . Ectoparasites . Zoonotic potential Companion animals may harbor a wide range of ectoparasites, some of which are transmissible to humans (Mencke 2013). Ectoparasites may cause discomfort and mild to severe skin disorders. They may also be involved in systemic sometimes life-threatening disorders, such as anemia in young or debili- tated individuals (Yeruham et al. 1989). Moreover, ectopara- sites are able to transmit a series of pathogens to animals and humans (Mencke 2013). Even though stray cats are a common sight in many urban centers and neighborhoods of cities, only a few studies regard- ing their parasitic fauna were performed. However, given the general lack of medical attention, stray cats are exposed to a higher infective parasitic pressure compared to owned ones. Furthermore, stray cats are capable of carrying ectoparasites into public places, thus contaminating the environment, where healthy animals or humans, especially children, may get infested (Jittapalapong et al. 2008). * Labrini V. Athanasiou lathan@vet.uth.gr Menelaos A. Lefkaditis mleuka@otenet.gr Anna V. Sossidou asossidou@gmail.com Alexandros H. Panorias alpanorias@hotmail.gr Smaragda E. Koukeri orestis_94@hotmail.com Anamaria I. Paştiu oana.pastiu@usamvcluj.ro 1 Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece 2 Veterinary Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece 3 Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 4 Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece Parasitol Res DOI 10.1007/s00436-015-4688-4