Hemoparasites in domestic cats from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil: positivity and epidemiological factors

Abstract

Hemoparasitosis in cats (Felis catus) is caused by protozoan and bacterial agents, primarily transmitted by fleas or ticks. This study was performed to evaluate the presence of hemoparasites in domestic cats from the urban region of Uberlândia (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) and associate positivity with epidemiological variables. Blood samples and data were collected from 300 cats. Blood was obtained from the ear tip, and two blood smears were prepared for each animal. Information on sex, breed, age, origin, habitat, access to external environments, presence of ectoparasites, diet, and region of origin was also gathered. In the blood smears, the positivity rates were 3.66% for Babesia spp., 5.33% for Ehrlichia spp., and 1.33% for Mycoplasma spp. Concomitant infections were observed between Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. (0.66%) and Babesia spp. and Mycoplasma spp. (0.33%). Habitat, access to external environments, and region of origin were identified as significant factors for the occurrence of hemoparasitosis. Although most sampled cats lived in houses (66.66%), the majority had free access to outdoor areas (81.00%), increasing their exposure to ectoparasites and, consequently, hemoparasites. Among the city’s regions, the highest positivity rate (3.33%) was observed in the east, potentially linked to the lower likelihood of guardians in this area keeping their cats strictly indoors, likely influenced by socioeconomic and cultural factors.