Protozoosis and Most Important Helminthozoonosis of Domestic Cats in Moscow

The purpose of this research was to obtain current data on protozoosis and most important helminthozoonosis in domestic cats in Moscow. Coproovoscopic examinations were performed in 2022–2023 to study two age groups of domestic cats: 316 kittens aged under one year in 6 administrative districts, and 570 cats aged over one year in 9 administrative districts of Moscow. Domestic cats over 1 year were infected with helminthiasis: nematode species Toxocara cati with maximum prevalence of 15%, species Toxascaris leonina with the prevalence of up to 10%, species Uncinaria stenocephala with the prevalence of 4%, cestode species Dipylidium caninum with the prevalence of 4% and the cestode helminth Taenia spp. with the prevalence of 5.5%, protozoan parasites Isospora felis with the prevalence of up to 5%, and Giardia spp. with the prevalence of up to 5%. The Toxocara cati infection in domestic kittens under one year reached its maximum value with the prevalence of 26.08%. Toxascaris leonina was not found in the kittens under one year. Dipylidium caninum infection in the kittens reached maximum prevalence of 7.2%. Taenia spp. was not found in the domestic kittens under one year of age. Current obtained data on most important feline helminth infections will make it possible to develop and propose guidelines for health improvement and prevention of invasive diseases in animals and avoidance of parasitic contamination of social facilities in external environment in Moscow.