Prevalence of enteric zoonotic organisms in cats

Objective-To determine prevalence of enter c zoonotic organisms in cats in north-central Coloradc. Design-Prospective study. Sample Population-Serum and fecal samples from 87 cats with diarrhea, 106 c ats without diarrhea, and 12 cats for which fecal consistency was unknown. Procedures-Samples were obtained from client-owned cats and cats at a human e society shelter. Serum was assayed for feline leukemia virus antigen and antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus, IgM antibodies against To xoplasma gondii, and IgG; antibodies against T gondii and Cryptosporidium p arvum. Microscopic examination of unstained feces was performed after centr ifugation in a zinc sulfate solution, thin fecal smears were stained with a cid fast stain and examined for C parvum, and bacteriologic culture of fece s was used to detect aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Results-Enteric zoonotic organisms were detected in feces from 27 of 206 (1 3.1%) cats and included C parvum (5.4%), Giardia spp (2.4%), Toxocara cati (3.9%), Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (1.0%), and Campylobacter jejuni (1.0%); each organism was detected in samples from cats with and wit hout diarrhea. Although differences between groups were not significant, a higher proportion of shelter cats (18.2%) had enteric zoonotic organisms th an client-owned cats (10.1%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Enteric zoonotic organisms were detected in feces of 13.1% of cats, suggesting that cats, particularly those in hom es of immunocompromised humans, should be evaluated for enteric zoonotic or ganisms.