Prevalence of Sarcocystis infection and other intestinal parasitisms in cats from a humane shelter in Ohio.

Feces of 1,000 cats from a humane shelter in Columbus, Ohio were examined for evidence of intestinal parasitisms. Prevalences (in percentage of oocysts or helminth eggs) were: Sarcocytis sp, 0.2; Toxoplasma-like sp, 1.0; Isospora felis, 6.2; Isopora rivolta, 3.2; Toxocara cati, 25; Capillaria sp, 1.3; Ancylostoma sp, 9.4; Uncinaria sp, 0.2; and Taenia sp, 0.5. Infectivity of coccidia found in feces was tested by oral inoculation into mice and by feeding inoculated mice to cats. Toxoplasma-like oocysts as well as I felis and I rivolta oocysts were infectious to mice. None of 4 Eimeria or the 2 Sarocystis isolates were infectious to mice and cats.