GASTRO‐INTESTINAL PARASITES OF FERAL CATS IN NEW SOUTH WALES

A total of 146 feral cats from several localities in New South Wales were examined for the presence of gastro-intestinal parasites. The cestodes recorded, and their prevalence, were Taenia taeniaeformis (21.9%), Spirometra erinacei (61.0%) and Dipylidium caninum (11.6%). One animal contained 31 T. serialis scolices considered to be the contents of a recently ingested Coenurus serialis. The common nematodes encountered and their prevalence were Toxocara cati (21.9%) and Ancylostoma spp (23.3%). Uncinaria stenocephala were found in 2 cats and a stomach wall tumour containing Cyathospirura dasyuridis was found in 1 cat, An acanthocephalan resembling Oncicola canis was the most prevalent parasite among feral cats in this survey. High burdens of S. erinacei, D. caninum, Ancylostoma spp and Oncicola sp were found. Samples from 4 localities in New South Wales were compared and there were major differences in the prevalence of T. taeniaeformis, D. caninum and T. cati. Ancylostoma spp occurred only in the Sydney (53.2%) and the Warren (4.8%) areas. Oncicola sp was not present in the Sydney area, but occurred in the Young area in 23.5% of the feral cats examined and in the Warren area (33.3%) and was most prevalent in the Menindee area (79.2%).