Gastrointestinal helminths are considered to be the most common parasites affecting cats worldwide. Correct diagnosis of these parasites in animals living in urban areas is pivotal, especially considering the zoonotic potential of some species (e.g. Ancylostoma sp. and Toxocara sp.). In this study, a copromicroscopic survey was conducted using fecal samples (n = 173) from domestic cats living in the northeastern region of Brazil. Samples were examined through the FLOTAC technique and the overall results showed positivity of 65.31% (113/173) among the samples analyzed. Coinfections were observed in 46.01% (52/113) of the positive samples. The most common parasites detected were Ancylostoma sp., Toxocara cati, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris sp., Dipylidium caninum and Cystoisospora sp. From an epidemiological point of view, these findings are important, especially considering that zoonotic parasites (e.g. Ancylostoma sp. and Toxocara sp.) were the nematodes most frequently diagnosed in this study. Therefore, the human population living in close contact with cats is at risk of infection caused by the zoonotic helminths of these animals. In addition, for the first time the FLOTAC has been used to diagnosing gastrointestinal parasites of cats in Brazil.Keywords: Copromicroscopic diagnosis, helminth, protozoa, felines, zoonosis, FLOTAC. ResumoHelmintos gastrointestinais são considerados os mais frequentes parasitos que afetam gatos em todo o mundo. O correto diagnóstico desses parasitos, em animais que vivem em áreas urbanas, é crucial, especialmente quando considerado o potencial zoonótico de algumas espécies (ex. Ancylostoma sp. e Toxocara sp.). Neste estudo, uma pesquisa coproparasitológica foi realizada, utilizando-se amostras de fezes (n = 173) de gatos domésticos da região Nordeste do Brasil. As amostras foram examinadas através da técnica FLOTAC, e os resultados gerais mostraram uma positividade de 65,31% (113/173). Co-infecções foram observadas em 46,01% (52/113) das amostras positivas. Os parasitas mais comuns aqui detectados foram Ancylostoma sp., Toxocara cati, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris sp., Dipylidium caninum e Cystoisospora sp. De um ponto de vista epidemiológico, esses resultados são importantes, especialmente considerando que os parasitos zoonóticos (ex. Ancylostoma sp. e Toxocara sp.) foram os mais frequentes nematódeos diagnosticados neste estudo. Portanto, a população humana, em estreito convívio com esses animais, apresenta risco de infecção por helmintos de caráter zoonótico. Além disso, pela primeira vez, a técnica de FLOTAC tem sido utilizada no diagnóstico de parasitos gastrointestinais em gatos no Brasil.

Dogs may be affected by different species of gastrointestinal parasites which present great importance in veterinary medicine and public health. Several techniques to diagnosing these parasites have been proposed, but different performances achieved by each method make difficult the choice of the best technique to be used. In this study, the performance of two classic methods (i.e., Willis and Hoffman techniques) and two recent techniques (i.e., FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC) to diagnosing gastrointestinal parasites of dogs was evaluated. Fecal samples (n = 127) of dogs divided in pools (n = 30) were collected and analyzed using four different techniques (see above). Eggs and/or oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites were detected in 93.3 % (28/30) of the samples. In particular, 20 % (6/30) were detected through the method of Hoffman, 53.3 % (16/30) by the Willis technique, and 63.3 % (19/30) and 90 % (27/30) by Mini-FLOTAC and FLOTAC, respectively. Ancylostomatidae, Trichuris vulpis and Toxocara canis were the most frequent parasites herein detected. The FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC techniques were the most efficient tools to detect eggs and/or oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs, therefore their use is recommended in the laboratorial routine of veterinary medicine. This study is the first report of the use of both techniques (i.e., FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC) to diagnosing parasites of dogs in Brazil.

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RESUMOGlicoproteína-P (gp-P) e proteína de resistência a múltiplas drogas (MRP1) são bombas de efluxo responsáveis pelo fenótipo MDR (resistência a múltiplas drogas). Neste trabalho, investigamos a expressão por imuno-histoquímica da gp-P e MRP1 em amostras de tecidos de 24 cães com Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi), e avaliamos se a leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) induz a MDR em cães, tendo a expectativa de que os resultados obtidos possam oferecer perspectivas de uma abordagem terapêutica mais segura e eficaz nesta doença. Os resultados mostraram que a expressão da gp-P nas amostras de cães com LVC foi maior (p<0,05) em todos os tecidos em comparação ao grupo controle, com exceção da pele, que não diferiu. Entretanto, apenas as glândulas adrenais nas amostras LVC, em comparação as controle, expressaram significativamente mais MRP1 (p<0,05). As expressões de gp-P e MRP1 foram menores (p<0,05) no baço e pele das amostras LVC positivas, em comparação aos demais tecidos. Os resultados sugerem que a falha da cura parasitológica poderia ser devido à alta expressão da gp-P e MRP1 no fígado, adrenal e rins, por impedir a ação parasiticida dos fármacos recomendados no tratamento. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Cão. Glicoproteína-P. Imuno-histoquímica. Leishmania infantum. MDR. MRP1. SUMMARYP-Glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) are efflux pumps responsible for the MDR phenotype (multidrug resistance). In this work, we will investigate the immunohistochemical expression of P-gp and MRP1 in 24 tissue samples from dogs with Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi) and evaluate whether canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) induces MDR in dogs. The expectation is that the results obtained from this research may offer prospects for a safer and more effective therapeutic approach for this disease. Findings illustrated that the expression of P-gp in CVL affected tissue samples (p<0.05) was greater than those of the control group, with the exception of skin tissue samples which did not differ. However, only the adrenal gland samples affected by LVC expressed significantly more MRP1 (p<0.05) than the control group. The expressions of P-gp and MRP1 were lower (p<0.05) in LVC positive spleen and skin samples in comparison with other tissues. These results suggest that the lack of a parasitological cure could be due to the high expression of P-gp and MRP1 in the liver, adrenal glands, and kidneys, which block the action of parasitacidal drugs recommended in treatment.KEY-WORDS: Dog. Immunohistochemical. Leishmania infantum. P-glycoprotein. MDR. MRP1.