Feral Cats | ScienceGate

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded species including humans. The definitive hosts of T. gondii are felid vertebrates including the domestic cat. Domestic cats shed oocysts for approximately two weeks in their feces after the primary infection. It has been shown that feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positive cats have a higher prevalence of and a higher titer of antibodies to T. gondii than those of FIV-negative cats. The main purposes of this study were to determine FIV prevalence and to investigate the oocysts shedding in FIV-positive and FIV-negative feral cats on St. Kitts. Fecal samples were collected from feral cats while their FIV statues were determined using a commercial SNAP kit. Total fecal DNA of each cat was tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) consistently detecting one genome equivalent. A FIV-positive status was detected in 18 of 105 (17.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.9%−24.3%) feral cats sampled. Furthermore, males were three times more likely to be FIV positive than females (p = 0.017) with an odds ratio of 3.93 (95% CI: 1.20–12.89). Adults were found to have at least twice the prevalence of FIV compared to cats younger than one year of age (p = 0.056) with an odds ratio of 3.07 (95% CI: 0.94–10.00). Toxoplasma gondii DNA was not detected in the feces of any of the 18 FIV-positive (95% CI: 0%−0.18%) and 87 FIV-negative cats (95% CI: 0%−0.04%). A follow-up study with a much bigger sample size is needed to prove or disprove the hypothesis that FIV-positive cats have a higher prevalence of shedding T. gondii oocysts than FIV-negative cats.

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Has the invasive mongoose Herpestes javanicus yet reached the island of Taveuni, Fiji?

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605304000857 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 457-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Craig G. Morley

Keyword(s):

Endemic Species ◽

Management Strategy ◽

World Heritage ◽

World Heritage Site ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Heritage Site ◽

Herpestes Javanicus ◽

Indian Mongoose ◽

Small Indian Mongoose

The Fijian island of Taveuni is being proposed as a potential World Heritage Site because much of its flora and fauna, including many endemic species, remains intact. The greatest threat facing Taveuni's wildlife is a potential incursion by the invasive small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus from nearby islands, and anecdotal reports have suggested that the mongoose may already be present. To determine if mongooses were present on Taveuni 40 traps were set in two locations close to the main ports of entry, in typical mongoose habitat. Normally mongooses are easily caught if they are present, but in 204 trap nights none were captured, although eight feral cats and 11 rats were caught. None of the 31 people questioned from around the island had seen the mongoose. A list of seven recommendations is provided for a management strategy to prevent any possible incursion by mongooses and to eradicate any arrivals at the earliest opportunity.

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Movement patterns of feral predators in an arid environment – implications for control through poison baiting

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr08098 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 422 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

K. E. Moseby ◽

J. Stott ◽

H. Crisp

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Sand Dunes ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Poison Baiting ◽

Specific Variation

Control of introduced predators is critical to both protection and successful reintroduction of threatened prey species. Efficiency of control is improved if it takes into account habitat use, home range and the activity patterns of the predator. These characteristics were studied in feral cats (Felis catus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in arid South Australia, and results are used to suggest improvements in control methods. In addition, mortality and movement patterns of cats before and after a poison-baiting event were compared. Thirteen cats and four foxes were successfully fitted with GPS data-logger radio-collars and tracked 4-hourly for several months. High intra-specific variation in cat home-range size was recorded, with 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home ranges varying from 0.5 km2 to 132 km2. Cat home-range size was not significantly different from that of foxes, nor was there a significant difference related to sex or age. Cats preferred habitat types that support thicker vegetation cover, including creeklines and sand dunes, whereas foxes preferred sand dunes. Cats used temporary focal points (areas used intensively over short time periods and then vacated) for periods of up to 2 weeks and continually moved throughout their home range. Aerial baiting at a density of 10 baits per km2 was ineffective for cats because similar high mortality rates were recorded for cats in both baited and unbaited areas. Mortality was highest in young male cats. Long-range movements of up to 45 km in 2 days were recorded in male feral cats and movement into the baited zone occurred within 2 days of baiting. Movement patterns of radio-collared animals and inferred bait detection distances were used to suggest optimum baiting densities of ~30 baits per km2 for feral cats and 5 per km2 for foxes. Feral cats exhibited much higher intra-specific variation in activity patterns and home-range size than did foxes, rendering them a potentially difficult species to control by a single method. Control of cats and foxes in arid Australia should target habitats with thick vegetation cover and aerial baiting should ideally occur over areas of several thousand square kilometres because of large home ranges and long-range movements increasing the chance of fast reinvasion. The use of temporary focal points suggested that it may take several days or even weeks for a cat to encounter a fixed trap site within their home range, whereas foxes should encounter them more quickly as they move further each day although they have a similar home-range size. Because of high intra-specific variability in activity patterns and home-range size, control of feral cats in inland Australia may be best achieved through a combination of control techniques.

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Helminth parasites of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and sympatric carnivores

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x07869203 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

pp. 377-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Javier Millán ◽

Joan Carles Casanova

Keyword(s):

Lynx Lynx ◽

Helminth Parasites ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Iberian Lynx ◽

Lynx Pardinus ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Sierra Morena ◽

Sympatric Carnivores ◽

Adult Cats ◽

Herpestes Ichneumon

AbstractFive critically endangered Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus) and 35 other sympatric carnivores (19 feral catsFelis catus, 12 Egyptian mongoosesHerpestes ichneumon, and 4 common genetsGenetta genetta) were analysed for helminths in Sierra Morena and Doñana area (southern Spain).Ancylostoma tubaeforme, which was believed to be harmful for lynx cubs according to a previous study, was present in the only lynx and in 53% of cats analysed in Doñana (80% in adult cats). Other species shared in both areas wereToxocara cati(1 lynx, 31% of cats),Joyeuxiella pasqualei(1 lynx, 21% of cats) andMesocestoidessp. (2 lynxes, 5% of cats). Only one mongoose was parasitized, harbouring larvae of two acantocephalan species not previously reported in the Iberian peninsula (Centrorhynchus(Sphaerirostris)lanceaandCentrorhynchus(Longirostris)undulatus). Feral cats may be a reservoir for hookworms and other helminths affecting the Iberian lynx. In contrast, mongooses and genets may not play a role in the epidemiology of these species.

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