Prevalence and epidemiologic patterns of feline parasitism detected by fecal examination in the United States, 2023.

Parasitic infections remain an important health concern in cats; however, contemporary large-scale data describing their prevalence and epidemiologic patterns in the United States are limited. This study evaluated the prevalence and diversity of feline parasitism detected by fecal examination and assessed demographic, geographic, and temporal factors associated with infection. Electronic laboratory records of fecal examinations performed on client-owned cats in the United States between January 1 and December 31, 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. All samples were processed and analyzed by highly trained professionals at Zoetis Reference Laboratories using centrifugal fecal flotation, coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, direct fluorescent antibody testing, and Baermann examination. A total of 15,395 fecal examinations were included, of which 13.52% were positive for at least one parasite and 2.10% contained multiple taxa. The most frequently detected parasite was Giardia spp. (4.82%), followed by Toxocara cati (4.75%), Cystoisospora spp. (3.40%), Cryptosporidium spp. (0.75%), Ancylostoma spp. (0.61%), Dipylidium caninum (0.39%), Taenia spp. (0.31%), capillarids (Eucoleus and Aonchotheca spp.; 0.24%), Spirometra spp. (0.24%), Toxascaris leonina (0.09%), Toxoplasma-like coccidia (0.08%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (0.07%), Sarcocystis spp. (0.06%), Calodium hepatica (0.01%), Alaria spp. (0.01%), Platynosomum fastosum (0.01%), and Trichuris spp. (0.01%). Ectoparasites, including Demodex spp. (0.06%), Otodectes cynotis (0.05%), and Cheyletiella spp. (0.01%), were occasionally detected. Significant differences in prevalence were observed by region, age, sex, reproductive status, and month. These findings highlight the ongoing diversity of feline parasitism and underscore the value of comprehensive fecal testing and year-round parasite protection in cats.