The prevalence of dipylidium caninum in cats based on fecal examination in Mersin province

This study was carried out with 104 feces of 104 cats (58 males + 46 females) from shelters and veterinary clinics within the Municipal Boundaries of Mersin province between March 2024 and July 2024. Parasitologically Zinc sulphate flotation and Teleman methods were applied to detect parasite egg packet. In macroscopic examinations, 5 proglottids belonging to Dipylidium caninum were detected. To verify whether the segments belonged to the parasite, a piece was crushed and examined under a microscope. In microscopic analyses performed with the Telemann method, D. caninum packet eggs were detected in 9 samples. In the evaluations performed with the flotation method, no packet eggs were found, while single eggs were detected in 11 samples. When the distribution of the cestode among the animals was examined, it was determined that 2 of the infected cats had owners and 7 were stray. The eggs of the parasite were found in animals between 0-6 months of age. It was determined that 4 of the infected cats were female and 5 were male. While the relationship between gender and ownership was found to be statistically insignificant (p = 0.989, p = 0.052, p > 0.05), the result was determined to be significant according to age (p = 0.003, p < 0.05). As a result: It was concluded that D. caninum is prevalent in cats in Mersin at a rate of 8.65%; the egg packet of the parasite are mostly seen by the sedimentation method; the animals in which the parasite was detected are flea infested, therefore cats are infected by eating these intermediate hosts, and for these reasons, it is important for cats and human health to prioritize combating ectoparasites in animals in order to reduce the prevalence of this zoonotic species. Key words: Dipylidium caninum, cat, feces, prevalence, diagnosis, Mersin