The Relation between Climatie Changes and Fleas in Stray Cats: with a Particular Reference to their Role as Intermediate Host of Dipylidium caninum

Abstract

Dipylidium caninum is a prevalent tapeworm in canines and carries zoonotic significance, as it can result in clinical conditions in humans. The study therefore aimed to evaluate the prevalence, morphological, and molecular diagnosis of D. Caninum in stray cats as well as the association between climatic changes and fleas infesting strays and their role in the transmission of D. caninum. Between January 2023 and January 2024, fifty stray cats were gathered from various areas within the governorate of Alexandria. Twelve (24%) of the fifty stray cats that were investigated by us were positive for D. caninum. Sixty eight % of the stray cats had flea infestations. Ctenocephalides felis was the most often observed species on cats (28/50=56%), with Ctenocephalides canis coming in second (11/50=22%). D. caninum, C.felis, and C. canis were morphologically identified. The COX1 gene of the cestode species was amplified and yielded the expected PCR product size (450 bp) from samples then published (GenBank accession number OR511472 and OR511473). As shown in the sequence distance figure, the sequenced strains showed 90.1-99.7% identity to Dipylidium caninum strains confirming the clustering of the study strain with Dipylidium caninum A significant frequency of D. caninum was identified in stray cats in Alexandria, Egypt, with phylogenetic and molecular techniques employed to verify the species' identity. Comprehensive research on the prevalence, as well as molecular and genetic analysis of D. caninum in Egypt, is necessary alongside control strategies.