Prevalence of Toxocara cati and the Role of Wild Birds as Paratenic Hosts: First Evidence from Türkiye.

Purpose Toxocara cati is a zoonotic ascarid nematode primarily infecting felids, with various vertebrates serving as paratenic hosts. Despite its public health importance, the role of wild birds in the transmission dynamics of T. cati remains understudied in many regions. This study aimed to investigate the presence of T. cati larvae in wild birds in Türkiye, evaluating their role as paratenic hosts and their contribution to the environmental reservoir of this parasite.Methods A total of 102 deceased wild bird specimens from various species were examined at the Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Pectoral muscle tissues and internal organs were collected and processed using the artificial digestion method to recover nematode larvae. The recovered larvae were initially identified via light microscopy based on morphological characteristics. Molecular confirmation was performed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) ribosomal DNA region.Results Toxocara cati larvae were detected in 11 out of 102 specimens, representing a total prevalence of 10.78%. The parasite was identified in six different avian species: barn owl (Tyto alba), yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus), tawny owl (Strix aluco), and carrion crow (Corvus corone). Both morphological features and phylogenetic analysis of the ITS sequences (GenBank accession numbers: PX443431–PX443438) confirmed the identity of the larvae as T. cati.Conclusion This study provides the first morphological and molecular evidence of T. cati in wild birds in Türkiye. The findings highlight that diverse wild bird species act as paratenic hosts, playing a significant role in the ecological maintenance and transmission of this zoonotic parasite. These results contribute to a better understanding of the environmental risk factors associated with toxocariasis and underscore the importance of wildlife surveillance within a One Health framework.