Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32967706›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2020

Importation of cats and risk of parasite spread: a Caribbean perspective and case study from St Kitts.

Jennifer Ketzis, Helle Bork-Larsen, Jernea Bustria, Anne Conan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 44% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Clinical co-parasitic infections in a cat imported from Thailand.The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne · 2026
    Article
  2. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jennifer KetzisCenter for Integrative Mammalian Research, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.
Helle Bork-LarsenCenter for Integrative Mammalian Research, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.
Jernea BustriaCenter for Integrative Mammalian Research, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.
Anne ConanCenter for Integrative Mammalian Research, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis. ayconan@cityu.edu.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6108-3346
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine · KN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn more recent years, international travel with cats has increased. The distribution of cat parasites can change with this movement. Already, subtropical and tropical parasites have been reported by veterinarians in areas where they are not naturally present. Understanding the prevalence of tropical and subtropical parasites in Caribbean islands and the risk of importation to temperate areas could enable improved prevention recommendations and border control import requirements.

methodsWe present a study focused on cat owning students enrolled in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme on St Kitts. Owners were interviewed about their cats and their use of parasiticides. Cats were examined for Trichuris felis and Platynosomum fastosum using sugar flotation, Lynxacarus radovskyi using an adhesive tape test, and Dirofilaria immitis using commercial antigen and antibody tests.

resultsData on 115 cats owned by 87 DVM students were collected and 90 cats, all expected to travel to the USA, were examined. Most of the cats were adults and born in St Kitts. Prevalence was reported as 6.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-15.1%) for T. felis, 16.2% (95% CI: 8.7-26.6%) for P. fastosum and 6.8% (95% CI: 2.5-14.3%) for L. radovskyi. All D. immitis tests were negative. DVM students reported a high level of deworming (83.3% of the cats), but the number of cats treated per recommendations were low (56.1% for endoparasites and 70.8% for ectoparasites). Also, there was a lack of clarity regarding the purpose of the treatments used and treatments did not appear to be targeted for the parasites present.

conclusionOur results indicate a low prevalence of the parasites of interest in the DVM student cat population compared to other prevalence studies from the Caribbean. However, a degree of non-compliance with parasiticide uses and the high number of cats traveling to the USA indicate a medium risk of importation of tropical and subtropical cat parasites to temperate areas. We recommend stronger health inspections and health screening requirements at the borders including the development of specific parasiticide protocols for cat importation.

Indexed as

AnimalsAntiparasitic AgentsCaribbean RegionCat DiseasesCatsFecesFemaleMaleParasitesParasitic Diseases, AnimalPrevalenceWest IndiesAntiparasitic AgentsCatMiteNematodePrevalenceSpatial movementTrematodeTropical and subtropical regions

Identifiers

PMID32967706
PMCPMC7513520
OpenAlexW3088575461

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.