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A SURVEY OF ECTOPARASITES ON DOMESTIC CAT (FELIS CATUS LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM RURAL AND URBAN AREA Nur Izzah Izzati Binti Ahmad RC 11 9 97 4 Bachelor of Science with Honours 20 13 (An im al Resource Science and Management) 2013

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A SURVEY OF ECTOPARASITES ON DOMESTIC CAT (FELIS CATUS LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM RURAL AND URBAN AREA

Nur Izzah Izzati Binti Ahmad

RC 119

974 Bachelor of Science with Honours 2013 (Animal Resource Science and Management)

2013

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all I would like to thanks Allah S.W.T because bless me with a good health

so that I able to complete this study. Secondly, I would like to express my

appreciation and gratitude to my supervisor Dr Mohd Azlan Jayasilan Bin Gulam

Azad, for the precious advice, support, comments and guidance throughout this study.

I also would like to thanks to my co-supervisor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Bin

Abdullah and special thanks to PhD student Miss Madinah Binti Adrus, for her

guidance and teaching me the right way to identify the ectoparasites.

This appreciation is also forwarded to Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to

Animal (SSPCA) for providing stray cats and to the SSPCA staffs who helping me in

handling the cats during ectoparasite sampling process.

Last but not least, high appreciation and thanks to my family, who always support

me in vary ways and also thanks to my fellows friends Noor Aisyah Binti A. Rahim,

Siti Hanisah Binti Zahuri and also Asma’a Binti Che Mohd Rosli because willing to

assist me for my field sampling.

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DECLARATION

No portion of the work referred to in this dissertation has been submitted in support

of an application for another degree of qualification of this or any other university or

institution of higher learning.

_____________________

Nur Izzah Izzati Binti Ahmad

Programme of Animal Resources Science and Management

Faculty of Resources Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i

DECLARATION ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS Iii

LIST OF TABLES v

LIST OF FIGURES vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii

ABSTRACT viii

ABSTRAK viii

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 General introduction 1

1.2 Hypothesis statement 4

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Fleas 5

2.2 Mites 6

2.3 Lice 7

2.4 Tick 7

3.0 MATERIAL AND METHOD

3.1 Study areas 13

3.2 Host collection 14

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3.3 Examination of ectoparasites 14

3.4 Processing sample and mounting of ectoparasites 15

3.5 Identification of ectoparasite 15

3.6 Data analysis 15

4.0 RESULT

4.0 Result 17

5.0 DISCUSSION

5.1 Urban habitat 21

5.2 Rural habitat 23

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 Conclusion 24

6.2 Recommendation 24

REFERENCES 26

APPENDICES 30

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in Malaysia

from 2005 to 2012

10

Table 2 The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in other

countries from 2002 to 2010

11

Table 3 The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in other

countries 2002 to 2010 (Continues)

12

Table 4 Percentage of ectoparasite infestation from two habitats 16

Table 5 Prevalence of ectoparasites based on urban and rural habitat 17

Table 6 The diversity of the ectoparasites found on domestic cats 18

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Host sampling areas 14

Figure 2 Haemaphysalis sp2 in dorsal view 19

Figure 3 Haemaphysalis sp2 in ventral view 19

Figure 4 Haemaphysalis sp3 in dorsal view 19

Figure 5 Haemaphysalis sp3 in ventral view 19

Figure 6 Ctenocephalides felis 20

Figure 7 Notoedres cati in ventral view 20

Figure 8 Felicola subrostratus 20

Figure 9 Listeropheridae sp1 in ventral view 20

Figure 10 Heterodoxus spiniger in dorsal view 20

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Mm Millimeter

% Percent

Km Kilometer

Kg Kampung

+ve Positive

–ve Negative

N Number

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A Survey of Ectoparasite on Domestic Cat (Felis catus LINNAEUS, 1758) From Rural

and Urban Area.

Nur Izzah Izzati Binti Ahmad

Animal Resources Science and Management

Faculty of Resources Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

ABSTRACT

A survey of ectoparasites on domestic cats from two different habitats has been conducted in six different

locations from October 2012 to March 2013. A total 69 of domestic cats have been examined for the presence of

ectoparasites, comprising 34 from urban habitat and 35 from rural habitat. Thirty six (52.1%) domestic cats have

been discovered to be infested with at least one species of ectoparasites. Eight species of ectoparasites manage to

be collected throughout the study. Felicola subrostrata (21.7%) is the common ectoparasite recovered from the

infested host. Listophorid mites (14.5%) show the high infestation on domestic cat from rural habitat. Sarcoptes

scabiei (10.1%), Notoedes cati (8.7%), Ctenocephalides felis (7.2%) infested the both rural and urban domestic

cat with the quite similar rate of infestation. Meanwhile, Heterodoxus spiniger (2.9%) and other two species of

Ixodid tick, which both show 1.4% of infestation rate only found on the urban domestic cats. However, S. scabiei

and C. felis are the only ectoparasites species among that have been found are important in medical point of view.

There is significant different in species diversity (χ2=38.29, p=0.00), as urban habitat show the higher number of

ectoparasite species compared to the rural habitat.

Keyword: ectoparasite, domestic cats, rural, urban, significant different.

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian mengenai ektoparasit pada kucing domestic telah dilaksanakan di enam lokasi yang berbeza dari

bulan Oktober 2012 hingga bulan Mac 2013. Sejumlah 69 ekor kucing domestik telah diperiksa untuk kehadiran

ektoparasit, yang terdiri daripada 34 ekor dari habitat bandar dan 35 ekor dari habitat luar bandar. Tiga puluh

enam ekor (52.1%) kucing domestik telah dikenalpasti dijangkiti dengan sekurang-kurangnya satu spesies

ektoparasik. Lapan spesies ektoparasik berjaya dikumpul sepanjang kajian. Felicola subrostrata (21.7%) adalah

yang biasa ditemui pada tuan rumah yang dijangkiti. Hama Listophorid (14.5%), menunjukkan jangkitan yang

tinggi pada kucing domestik dari luar bandar. Sarcoptes scabiei (10.1%), Notoedes cati (8.7%), Ctenocephalides

felis (7.2%) menjangkiti kucing domestik dari habitat bandar dan luar bandar dengan kadar jangkitan yang agak

sama. Manakala, Heterodoxus spiniger (2.9%) dan dua spesies sengkenit Ixodid, yang kedua-dua spesies

menunjukkan 1.4% kadar jangkitan, hanya dijumpai pada kucing domestik dari habitat bandar.

Walaubagaimanapun, hanya S. scabiei dan C. felis adalah spesies ektoparasit dari kalangan yang telah ditemui

mempunyai kepentingan dari segi perubatan. Terdapat perbezaan yang penting dari segi kepelbagaian spesies

(χ2=38.29, p=0.00), yang mana, habitat bandar menunjukkan bilangan spesies ektoparasik yang tinggi

berbanding dengan habitat luar bandar.

Kata kunci: ektoparasit, kucing domestik, luar bandar, bandar, perbezaan yang penting

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General introduction

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is the most favorite companion animal among

Malaysian. These may due to their cuteness and lovely appearance and also their

capability to control the population of the pest in their owner house. The domestic

cats can be found in all over the place that have the human presence, whether in rural

or urban habitat.

Domestic cat population serves as an importance host for the various medical

important species of ectoparasites (Borji et al., 2011) and the infested stray domestic

cats can easily spread many zoonotic diseases to the indoor domestic cats via direct

contact (Jittapalapong et al., 2008) as the ectoparasites serve as the vector for many

zoonotic disease such as Lyme disease, plague, Rocky mountain spotted fever,

tularemia (Neldes & Reeves, 2005), rabies, cat-scratch disease, ehrlichiosis and

toxoplasmosis (Jittapalapong et al., 2008). The potential of diseases transmission

from domestic cats to the human being is high as the domestic cats share the same

habitat with the human being.

Ectoparasites are the organisms that live outside the other animal or organism’s body

and feed on it. The ectoparasites are comprised from many group of parasitic

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animals. The common ectoparasites infesting the domestic cats are belongs to the

four groups which are fleas, mites, lice and ticks.

Ectoparasites are diverse and highly adaptable to their host, as they permanently or

periodically infesting their host or their host’s habitat (Nithikathkul et al., 2005).

According to Dick et al. (2003), the ectoparasites that permanently infesting their

host have special characteristic such as small in size, flatted form and also the ability

to move on their host’s body surface or within the hairs.

Besides being a vector for disease, the ectoparasites also can cause direct damage

toward the host by ingesting blood, skin, and muscle of the host (Balashov, 2007;

Changbunjong et al., 2009). The infestation of ectoparasites may cause the host to

feel uncomfortable due to mechanical damage, action of saliva and allergic reaction

at the site that have been ingested by ectoparasites (Balashov, 2007; Jittapalapong et

al., 2008; Changbunjong et al., 2009; Mendes-de-Almeida et al., 2011).

Some of the ectoparasitic arthropods are the pests that irritates the host, whether

human or domestic animal (Jittapalapong et al., 2008), besides their role as the main

vector and potentially transmit a variety of diseases (Akucewich et al., 2002;

Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Madinah et al., 2011), cause the pruritic and non-pruritic

skin disorder (Akucewich et al., 2002; Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Chanie et al., 2010)

and hypersensitivity disorder in domestic animal (Akucewich et al., 2002;

Jittapalapong et al., 2008). The high infestation of the ectoparasites can cause the

domestic animal to lose a lot of blood and that may threaten the life of the young and

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debilitated domestic animals (Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Mendes-de-Almeida et al.,

2011).

According to the Heukelbach et al. (2012), the prevalence of the ectoparasitic-vector

species may serve as the indicator in order to measure the risk of the transmission of

the pathogen to the human that live associated with the ectoparasitic-vector borne

pathogen.

The ectoparasites can be classified into the host specific and non-host specific

ectoparasites. The host-specific ectoparasites is the ectoparasites that exclusively

infested one or a few species of host that closely related (Dick et al., 2005), for

example, Polyplacid lice is the highly host specific ectoparasite of bird and it will not

infesting the human (Nelder & Reeves, 2005).

The prevalence of ectoparasites on domestic cats and other domestic animal is

depends on the rate of proliferation of the ectoparasites which influenced by the

environmental condition, humidity and temperature of the habitat (Akucewich et al.,

2002; Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Paramasvaran et al., 2009; Mendes-de-Almeida et

al., 2011; Nuchjangreed & Somprasong, 2007). Furthermore, Jittapalapong et al

(2008) also state that socio-economy also seemed one of the important factor for the

prevalence of the ectoparasites as increasing cost of living may cause the pet owners

least concern and unaffordability to manage their pet’s health. The relationship of

domestic cats with other animal also can contribute to the prevalence of ectoparasites

as the ectoparasites can be transmitted from other animal host (Paramasvaran et al.,

2009). The advance in transportation system and relocation of infested animal also

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can influence the prevalence and the infestation rate of ectoparasites on domestic cats

and other animal at that particular area (Nuchjangreed & Somprasong, 2007).

As there is no prior study conducted regarding to the ectoparasites of domestic cats

from different habitats, therefore this study is important in order to understand more

about the distribution of the ectoparasites of domestic cats from different habitats.

This study also can provide the information on the general health condition based on

the level of ectoparasites prevalence.

The main objectives of this study were to determine whether there are any significant

differences on the diversity of ectoparasites between urban and rural habitats and to

describe the type of ectoparasites found on domestic cats in Kuching region.

1.2 Hypothesis statement.

HO : There is no significant different on the diversity of ectoparasites

between the urban and rural area.

HA : There is significant different on the diversity of ectoparasites

between the urban and rural area.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

There are many organisms that belongs to different taxa such as insect, arthropod and

annelid live as the parasite on other animal. The common ectoparasite group that

infesting the mammals are fleas, mites, lice and ticks.

2.1 Fleas

Fleas from order Siphonaptera are small wingless insect which both male and female

adult largely infesting and feed on the mammal’s blood (Taylor et al., 2007). The

complete duration of fleas life cycle is highly influenced by the environmental

condition, as the life cycle can be completed in less than two weeks or extent for

several months (Beck & Pfister, 2004).

Fleas are the predominant ectoparasites to infest the domestic cat (Akucewich et al.,

2002; Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Xhaxhiu et al., 2009; Chin et al., 2010; Borji et al.,

2011; Mendes-de-Almeida et al., 2011). The flea infestation can directly affect their

host by irritating them and beside feeding on blood they can cause dermatitis and

allergic reaction (Borji et al., 2011; Nuchjangreed & Somprasong, 2007) due to

chemical components of flea saliva (Beck & Pfister, 2004). Furthermore, the fleas

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bite can create a wound which may develop a crust of dried exudates (Taylor et al.,

2007).

The fleas also play an important role in transmitting serious disease such as

bartonellosis (cat scratch disease) to both human and animal (Jittapalapong et al.,

2008) and may be a vector for many type of zoonotic diseases (Nelder & Reeves,

2005) and intermediate host for the helminths species such as Hymenolepis diminuta,

H. nana and Dipylidium caninum (Heukelbach et al., 2012). The long period of fleas

infestation can lead to the chronic blood spoliation, this resulted from the blood

ingesting by fleas, as it capable to ingest large amount of blood per day (Mendes-de-

Almeida et al., 2011).

2.2 Mites

Mites which is potential intermediate host for anoplocephalid cestodes is belongs to

order Acariformes, is small size animal which less than 1 mm long and using the hair

or setae as the sensory organ as most of them are blind and they also have a short life

cycle which less than four weeks or even eight days (Taylor et al., 2007). Taylor et

a.l (2007) also state that mites infestation which can occur via direct contact are

called acariasis and the severe dermatitis resulting from the acariasis are known as

mange. Most of the mites spend their entire live inhibit the host skin and feed on

their host blood, lymph, skin debris or sebaceous secretion (Taylor et al., 2007).

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2.3 Lice

Lice are the small wingless insect with length about 0.5-8 mm and most of the

species are blind with only few species have photosensitive eyes spot (Taylor et al.,

2007). Taylor et al. (2007) also stated that this parasite is highly host specific which

feed on epidermal debris, parts of feathers, sebaceous secretions and blood as have

potential in transmission of anaplasmosis disease. Heavy lice infestation is usually

called pediculosis (Taylor et al., 2007).

2.4 Ticks

Tick is large and long-lived ectoparasite which feed on the vertebrate (mammals and

birds) blood (Taylor et al., 2007). According to Nuchjangreed and Somprasong

(2007), the surrounding temperature can give the great impact on the rate of growth,

development reproduction and survival of certain species of tick.

Tick is a vector for virus, bacteria and protozoa (Nuchjangreed & Somprasong., 2007;

Taylor et al., 2007; Xhaxhiu et al., 2009; Mendes-de-Almeida et al., 2011) as it play

the important role in transmission of disease (Akucewich et al., 2002; Dantas-Torres

et al., 2009) such as ehrlichiosis disease (Jittapalapong et al., 2008). Beside the

hazardous of the disease that it carries the tick saliva also harmful as tick saliva

contain toxin which can cause the tick paralysis (Nuchjangreed & Somprasong.,

2007).

There are many ectoparasites studies have been conducted in Malaysia, and largely

those studies are more focusing on the ectoparasites of the wild small mammals. The

studies of ectoparasites on small mammals conducted by Chuluun et al. (2005),

Mariana et al. (2005), Mariana et al. (2008), Paramasvaran et al. (2009), Mariana et

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al. (2011) and Madinah et al. (2011) at different locations in Malaysia show that

Laelaps echidninus, L. nuttali and Leptotrombidium deliense are the common

ectoparasites species found infesting wild small mammals in Malaysia. Beside the

study of ectoparasites on small mammals, the study of ectoparasites on other host

species, such as domestic cats, domestic dogs and human which conducted by

Norhidayu et al (2012), Kernif et al (2012) and the Chin et al (2010) respectively.

The study of the ectoparasites on the domestic animal have been conducted

worldwide as the domestic animal live close to human and the ectoparasites of

domestic animal also have the potential to be infested human being (Jittapalapong et

al., 2008). The Chin et al (2010), reported the infestation of cat’s fleas

Ctenocephalides felis on six university student in Kuala Lumpur. C. felis or its

common name cat’s fleas is the predominant fleas found on the domestic cats

(Akucewich et al., 2002; Balashov, 2007; Jittapalapong et al., 2008; Chanbunjong et

al., 2009; Xhaxhiu et al., 2009; Mendes-de-Ameida et al., 2011; Borji et al., 2011).

This ectoparasite species also have been found on the domestic dogs in Brazil

(Dantas-Torres et al., 2009; Heukelbach et al., 2012) and also on sheep and goat in

Nigeria (Ofukwu & Akwuobu, 2010).

Beside C. felis, C. canis (Nithikathkul et al., 2005; Balashov, 2007; Nuchjangreed &

Somprasong 2007; Xhaxhiu et al., 2009) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus

(Nithikathkul et al., 2005; Balashov, 2007; Nuchjangreed & Somprasong 2007;

Xhaxhiu et al., 2009; Dantas-Torres et al., 2009; Bahrami & Delpisheh, 2010;

Klimpel et al., 2010) also commonly discovered on the domestic dogs. Beside

infesting the domestic dogs, R. sanguineus also have been reported to infest domestic

cats (Akucewich et al., 2002; Mendes-de-Ameida et al., 2011) and sheep and goat

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(Ofukwu & Akwuobu, 2010). The previous study regarding to the ectoparasites

found on the various host are summarized in Table 1 to Table 3.

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Table 1: The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in Malaysia from 2005 to 2012

Host(s) Result Technique(s) Effort Study

Rodent Three species of mites, two species of chiggers and two

species of lice. Combing 11 Chuuluun et al (2005)

2

Bats and small

mammals

Seven species of mites, six species of chiggers and five

species of ticks. Combing 272 Mariana et al (2005)

2

Birds, bats and small

mammals

Eleven species of mites, five species of chiggers and five

species ticks. Combing 161 Mariana et al (2008)

2

Rodent and shrews Nine species of mites, four species of chiggers, four species

of tick and one species of fleas. Combing 201

Paramasvaran et al

(2009)1,2

Human One species of fleas. Hand-

removing 6 Chin et al (2010)

1

Bats, tree shrew,

rodent and myriapod

Eight species of mites, eight species of chiggers and five

species of ticks.

Combing and

using forceps 140 Mariana et al (2011)

2

Small mammals Eight species of mites, three species of and three species of

ticks Combing 16 Madinah et.al (2011)

2

Cat One species of mites. Combing 40 Jeffery et.al (2012)1

Cat One species of lice. Combing 102 Norhidayu et al (2012)1

Dog Two species of ticks Combing 212 Kernif et al (2012)2

Footnotes:

1, Urban habitat; 2, Rural habitat

*Note = the effort of the studies was measured by the number of the host that have been examined.

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Table 2 : The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in other countries from 2002 to 2010

Host(s) Result Technique(s) Effort Study

Cat One species of mites, one species of lice four

species of ticks and three species of fleas.

Combing, skin scraping and

ear swab 200 Akucewich et al (2002)

b,1

Cat, dog , cattle, horse,

goat, sheep and pig

Ten species of lice, twelve species of mites and

seventeen species of tick Balashov (2007)

i,1,2

Cat One species of mites, one species of lice and

two species of fleas. Combing and skin scraping 575 Jittapalapong et al (2008)

a,1

Cat, dog and cattle One species of fleas, two species of tick and

three species of lice.

Combing, brush the animal

coat and collect using forceps 111 Chanbunjong et al (2009)

a,2

Cat and dog Two species of mites, one species of lice, two

species of tick and three species of fleas. Combing and skin scraping 207 Xhaxhiu et al (2009)

c,1

Cat Two species of mites, one species of lice, one

species of tick and one species of fleas. Combing 292

Mendes-de-Ameida et al

(2011)d,1

Cat One species of mites and one species of fleas. Combing 52 Borji et al (2011)e,1

Dog One species of tick and one species of fleas Hand-removal 100 Nithikathkul et al (2005)a,1

Dog One species of tick Combing and using forceps 16 Nelder and Reeves (2005)f,1

Dog Three species of mites, one species of lice, two

species of ticks and three species of fleas. Use prophylactic insecticide 83

Nuchjangreed and Somprasong

(2007)a,1

Footnotes:

a, Thailand; b, Florida; c, Albania; d, Brazil; e, Iran; f, United State; g, Nigeria; h, Ethiopia; i, Russia; 1, Urban habitat; 2, Rural habitat

*Note = the effort of the studies was measured by the number of the host that have been examined.

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Table 3 : The previous ectoparasites studies conducted in other countries 2002 to 2010 (Continues).

Host(s) Result Technique(s) Effort Study

Dog Two species of tick and one species of fleas. Combing 202 Agbolade et al (2008)g,1

Dog One species of lice, two species of ticks and

one species of flea. Hand-removal 41 Dantas-Torres et al (2009)

d,1

Dog One species of mites, two species of lice

and four species of tick. Combing 802

Bahrami and Delpisheh

(2010)e,1

Dog One species of lice and three species of

ticks

Combing euthanized

animal 46 Klimpel et al (2010)

d,1

Dog Three species of ticks and one species of

fleas. Combing 15 Heukelbach et al (2012)

d,1

Sheep and goat Four species of mites, two species of lice,

one species of tick and one species of keds.

Skin scraping and hand-

removal 1600 Chanie et al (2010)

h,1

Sheep and goat

Two species of mites, two species of lice,

six species of tick and one species of flea. Skin scraping

1040 Ofukwu and Akwuobu

(2010)g,2

Footnotes:

a, Thailand; b, Florida; c, Albania; d, Brazil; e, Iran; f, United State; g, Nigeria; h, Ethiopia; i, Russia; 1, Urban habitat; 2, Rural habitat

*Note = the effort of the studies was measured by the number of the host that have been examined.

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CHAPTER 3

MATERIAL AND METHODS

3.1 Study areas

The domestic cats were caught in the two different habitats in Kuching region which

are urban and rural between October 2012 to March 2013. The urban area refers to

the place or area that are well develop infrastructurally and have many kind of

facilities such as shop premises, market, school, wide road and clinic and managed

by the District Council. Whereas the rural area refers to the place or area that is

located quite far (30-40km) from the city and lack with urban facilities. The urban

area also has the higher human population than rural area. The urban domestic cats

were caught from Stutong, Kota Samarahan and Satok. While, the rural domestic cats

were caught from Kampung Empila, Kampung Niup and Kampung Mang.

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Figure 1: Host sampling sites (Google map, 2013)

3.2 Host collection

All domestic cats were caught by hand. The cat food pellet was use as bait, as the

domestic cats do not like being approach by the stranger. The cat food pellet makes

the domestic cats calm and makes the sampling process easier.

3.3 Examination of ectoparasites

The fur of the domestic cats were combed with a fine tooth comb on the white cloth.

All the ectoparasites from the white cloth was collected using the moistened end of a

sharpened wooden applicator stick and placed in the sample tube that contain 70%

ethanol. The sample tube labeled with sufficient information, such as location, cat’s

sex and date.

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3.4 Processing sample and mounting of ectoparasites

The content of the sample tube was examined under stereo microscope in order to

identify and separate the ectoparasites. The ectoparasites were sorted based on

morphology. The mites were mounted directly in the Hoyer’s medium and heated

with bunsen burner for clearing. Whereas, for the bigger ectoparasites (lice and

fleas), were placed in the lactophenol for a week at room temperature before being

mounted in Hoyer’s medium. The ticks were the only ectoparasite that was not being

mounted in Hoyer’s medium, because the ticks are bigger enough to be examined

and identified by using the stereo microcope.

3.5 Identification of ectoparasites

The prepared slides were examined under compound microscope with 40x, 100x,

400x and 100x magnification in order to identify the mounted ectoparasite.

Ectoparasites were identified to species level where possible by using the published

keys and taxonomic drawings and reference by Taylor et al. (2007).

3.6 Data analysis

The data was analyzed by using the chi-square test in order to determine whether

there is significance of diversity of ectoparasites based on habitats. The chi-square

test was performed using PAST (Paleontological Statistics software package for

education and data analysis) version 2.04 (Hammer et al., 2001).