Health · Public Health & Disease · 9 hrs ago
Nearly one in five Giardia-positive cats carried types that can infect people
Researchers examined 157,616 stool samples from cats in the U.S. and Canada, collected between March 2022 and August 2023.
Giardia, a parasite that lives in the gut, was found in 6.3% of the samples.
Nearly one in five positive samples carried types of the parasite that can infect people and other mammals.
Cats can carry Giardia without looking sick, though some develop diarrhea.
Kittens were more likely to test positive than older cats, and male cats tested positive slightly more often than females.
The study also found higher overall infection rates in cats that had not been spayed or neutered, but the pattern differed among kittens.
The researchers said their records could not test whether shelter conditions, stress, or early surgery help explain the kitten findings.
A study of 157,616 cat stool samples found that 6.3% tested positive for Giardia.
Nearly one in five Giardia-positive samples carried types that can infect people.
The samples were submitted to Antech Diagnostics between March 2022 and August 2023.
Kittens tested positive more often than older cats, and males slightly more often than females.
Cats can carry Giardia without showing signs of illness.
- Who
- Pet cats in the United States and Canada were tested. The study was led by Margaret Wingerd of VCA SouthPaws.
- What
- The study found Giardia in 6.3% of samples; 1,840 positive samples carried types that can infect people.
- When
- Samples were submitted between March 2022 and August 2023.
- Where
- The samples came from pet cats across the United States and Canada and were submitted to Antech Diagnostics.
- Why
- The study examined Giardia in cat stool samples, including whether infections involved types capable of infecting humans.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Antech received 157,616 cat stool samples for the study.
Earth.com published its report on the study findings.
- Samples tested
- 157,616 cat stool samples
- Samples positive for Giardia
- 9,962, or 6.3%
- Human-infecting types
- 1,840 positive samples carried types A or B
- Kittens under one year
- 10.7% of U.S. cats in this age group tested positive
- Senior cats aged 10 and older
- 1.3% tested positive
What people are saying
While some infected cats develop obvious signs of illness, others may appear perfectly healthy and still carry or shed the parasite
Sources
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