A Comparative Study on the Prevalence of <i>Demodex</i> Mites in Cats with Dermatitis and Healthy Cats with an Emphasis on Blood Testing in AL-Diwaniyah Province

Introduction: Cat infestation with ectoparasites is one of the medical and veterinary importance worldwide due to transmission of pathogen agent’s.The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of Demodex mite in the cats with dermatitis and healthy cats. Methods: This study was conducted in 100 cats during the year 2024 in the small animals Clinics, veterinary hospital and some cats that were captured with dermatitis and the type of parasitic or non-parasitic dermatitis. The collected mites were clarified in 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) for 24 hours and Examination of the mounted specimens was done by aid of a microscope. Also Blood-test (C.B.C test) was done in all the samples. Results: Acording to the results of the frequency of contamination with non-contaminated and parasitic Demodex dermatitis in the positive of this study in 2024, 8% was parasitic dermatitis and 92% was non parasitic dermatitis. In the study of C.B.C in healthy cats, the average percentage of Neutrophils was 48%, lymphocytes 46%, eosinophils 2%, monocyte 3% and Basophil 1%. In the study of C.B.C in cats with nonparasitic dermatitis Neutrophils were 44%, lymphocytes 40%, eosinophils 9%, monocytes 3% and Basophil 4%. In the study of C.B.C in cats with Demodex parasitic dermatitis, Neutrophils were 39%, lymphocytes 43%, eosinophils 14%, monocytes 3% and Basophil 1%. In blood tests of healthy cats and cats with non-parasitic and parasitic dermatitis, the number of red blood cells counted did not show any significant difference. Conclusion: The significant relationship was observed between the percentage of eosinophils in parasitic and non-parasitic dermatitis, so that the percentage of eosinophils increased with the prevalence of parasitic and non-parasitic dermatitis. This study provides new data and information on the infection that may help in developing methods of controlling these parasites. Further investigations of external parasites in cats in Iraq are strongly recommended.