Faecal samples were collected from cats kept as pets (n = 120) and stray cats (n = 135) in Central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis (Kunstler, 1882), Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi Desportes, Le Charpentier, Galian, Bernard, Cochand-Priollet, Lavergne, Ravisse et Modigliani, 1985 by PCR analysis of the small-subunit of rRNA (Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis) and ITS (microsporidia) genes. Sequence analysis of targeted genes revealed the presence of C. felis Iseki, 1979, G. intestinalis assemblage F, E. cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 genotype II, and E. bieneusi genotype D. There was no correlation between the occurrence of detected parasites and sex, presence of diarrhoea or drug treatment (drug containing pyrantel and praziquantel). Compared to pet cats (7%), stray cats (30%) were statistically more frequently infected with protist parasites and overall may present a greater risk to human health.

Center for Food Safety Department of Food Science and Technology University of Georgia Griffin USA

Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland

Department of Microbiological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo ND USA

Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic

Faculty of Agriculture University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

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