Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42418442›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Zoonotic endoparasites and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in free-roaming cats (Felis catus) from New York City boroughs.

Viet-Linh Nguyen, Elizabeth Gurtowski, Jiayi Chen, Megan Rosen, Pratap Kafle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Viet-Linh NguyenShreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, Rowan University, Harrison Township, New Jersey, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3152-4830
Elizabeth GurtowskiLewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, New York, United States of America.
Jiayi ChenLewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, New York, United States of America.
Megan RosenLewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, Brookville, New York, United States of America.
Pratap KafleShreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, Rowan University, Harrison Township, New Jersey, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1214-463X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Free-roaming cats (Felis catus) can serve as reservoirs of various zoonotic parasites in urban settings. Despite a large population of free-roaming cats around New York City, studies assessing the prevalence and shedding of various parasites in the New York urban landscape are scarce. This study utilized fecal and blood samples opportunistically collected during the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program from 87 free-roaming cats in New York City between May and July 2023. Samples were analyzed using centrifugal fecal flotation, coproantigen immunoassays, serologic assays, and PCR-based assays for gastrointestinal and vector-borne parasites. Fecal flotation (n = 87) results revealed that 57.5% (50/87; 95% CI: 46.9-67.4) of cats were infected with at least one species of parasite. The most prevalent infection was Toxocara spp. (54%; 95% CI: 43.4-64.3), followed by Ancylostoma spp. (13.8%; 95% CI: 8.2-22.6) and coccidia (11.5%; 95% CI: 6.4-19.9). Coproantigen testing (n = 43) identified Giardia spp. in 11.6% (5/43; 95% CI: 5.1-24.5) and Cryptosporidium spp. in 2.3% (1/43; 95% CI: 0.4-12.1) of cats. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were detected in 8.9% (4/45; 95% CI: 3.5-20.7) of serum samples; no Dirofilaria immitis antigen and Cytauxzoon felis DNA were found in the blood samples (n = 45). Male cats were significantly more likely to be infected with Toxocara spp. (OR = 4.36) and, along with juvenile cats (<1 year), shed significantly higher numbers of eggs (p < 0.05), identifying young males as high-intensity "super-shedders" driving environmental contamination. The high prevalence of zoonotic helminths, particularly Toxocara spp., underscores the public health risks associated with unmanaged feline populations in densely populated urban centers. These findings highlight the utility of integrating disease surveillance into TNR programs to monitor urban ecosystem health and mitigate zoonotic risks.

Indexed as

Cat DiseasesToxoplasmaToxoplasmosis, AnimalZoonosesAnimalsCatsFecesFemaleMaleNew York CityPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID42418442
PMCPMC13345238

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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.