Besnoitia was detected in the fecal samples of a cattery in Shenyang, China

Besnoitia are a genus of cyst-forming protozoa, with cats serving as the definitive host for several species of Besnoitia. In order to gain insight into the epidemiology of Besnoitia infection in cats in catteries in Shenyang City, 58 fecal samples were collected from six catteries, and oocysts conforming morphologically to Besnoitia as well as Besnoitia ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences were detected, confirming the presence of this parasite in a single cattery located in Shenyang, China. The ITS1 sequences were 100% identical to Besnoitia acinonyx. The findings of this study contribute to the existing epidemiological data on the disease, providing a valuable reference for the prevention and treatment of the disease.