Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in Cats from Queretaro and the Risk to Public Health

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Giardia duodenalis is a flagellated protozoan that has been reported worldwide. Its resistance to adverse climates and its wide host range makes this parasite a serious problem specifically in developing countries where personal hygiene practices are inadequate. The magnitude of the risk of transmission from cats to humans is not well known; to date, in Mexico, there has not been a single study of the presence of G. duodenalis in cats. Therefore, the objective of this work is to determine the frequency and importance of the cat as a potential zoonotic reservoir of Giardia. Sampling of feces was performed in private clinics and an animal control unit. A direct microscopy diagnosis was carried out, and once positive results were obtained, PCR and RFLP were performed in order to obtain assemblages. The results obtained in the present study, in terms of the genetic characterization, showed only assemblage A, which indicates that the cat is an important source of transmission to humans, with consequences for public health. ABSTRACT: Giardia is a protozoan that affects humans as well as a wide range of domestic species. It is distributed worldwide, and the highest frequency is seen in developing countries. Due to the potential for domestic cats to be carriers of this parasite and subsequently transmit the infection to humans, it is important to know the risk of transmission. For this reason, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency of this parasite in the cat population of the city of Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico, and identify the assemblages present to determine the role this host plays in public health, this being the first study of its type to be performed in the country. This was a cross-sectional study during which 200 fecal samples were collected from cats of both sexes and varying ages and strata of origin. The samples were analyzed by microscopy following the flotation technique, having obtained a general frequency of 25%. Giardia cysts were found at higher frequency in pasty stools. The assemblages found were zoonotic, specifically assemblage A, which suggests that the cat poses an important risk for the dissemination of the parasite to humans, making it an important public health problem.