Outcome of parasitological examinations in cats in Germany: a retrospective survey

This retrospective study examined the occurrence of endoparasites in feline faecal samples in a German diagnostic laboratory between January 2019 and December 2019. Different methods for endoparasite detection were performed: 6,425 samples by flotation method as well as sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin concentration (SAFC) technique, 721 samples by Baermann-Wetzel migration technique, 3,233 samples by a Giardia coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 346 samples by a Cryptosporidium coproantigen ELISA, 1,007 samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Giardia duodenalis, and 672 samples by PCR testing for Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 8.5% of the samples were positive for parasites in the microscopic examination using the flotation method and SAFC technique in combination: Toxocara cati (3.8%), Cystoisospora spp. (2.3%), Giardia duodenalis (1.9%), Ancylostomatidae (0.3%), lungworm larvae (0.3%), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (0.2%), Taeniidae (0.2%), Capillaria spp. (0.2%), Toxascaris leonina (0.08%), Sarcocystis spp. (0.06%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.02%). The detection rate of lungworm larvae by the Baermann-Wetzel migration technique was 4.7%. Giardia duodenalis was detected by ELISA in 8.1% of the samples and by PCR in 7.9%. Detection rates for Cryptosporidium spp. were 1.7% by ELISA and 2.5% by PCR. Cats in the first year of life were more frequently infected with parasites than older animals.