Seasonal Variation in infection of Stray cats Felis catus L. With The nematode Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) in Basra Provence , Iraq

Abstract

70 samples of stray cats Felis catus that were hunted from two areas in Basra province  were examined, namely the Shatt al-Arab (Al-Jazeera ) area, a semi-rural agricultural area, and the  Hay Al-Resala area, which is an urban area, the total pravelance of T.cati nematode  was  60% and mean intensity of infaction was 17.5.  The highest number of infections was recorded in Hay Al-Resala area in 40 cats, with a rate of 100% infection, while the lowest number of infections was found in the  Shatt Al-Arab in two cats, with a percentage of 0.06%. The highest rate of infection among females and males  of cats was recorded 100% in the area of Hay Al-Resalah, while in the Shatt Al-Arab, the lowest percentage of infection was recorded in female cats  (7.6%). The highest infection rate was recorded in June, reaching  70   %.While  the lowest infection rate was in May, reaching 35.7 %. The highest infection rate was recorded in the spring (75%) and the lowest infection rate was recorded in the winter (30.7% ).  The highest incidence was recorded in the second weight group (75%)   confined between 2.5-3.5 kg  , while no injury was recorded in the first weight group confined between 1.5-2.5 kg.