Prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in stray and farm dogs from Spain

Abstract

Dogs play a potential role as reservoirs for zoonotic parasites, being especially problematic uncontrolled dog populations such as stray and farm dogs with access to populated areas. In order to investigate the prevalence of canine intestinal parasites in at-risk dog populations, we tested a total of 233 faecal samples shed by stray and dairy farm dogs from northern Spain. Telemann method was used to detect the presence of eggs and (oo)cysts of common dog intestinal parasites and Cryptosporidium was detected by PCR. One hundred and forty eight out of 233 samples (63.5%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, being Ancylostomidae (35.6%; 83/233) and Trichuris (35.2%; 82/233) the parasites most frequently identified. Cryptosporidium DNA was not detected in any of the faecal samples analysed. The overall prevalence was significantly higher in stray dogs than in farm dogs (72.5% vs 58.8%). Specifically, stray dogs had a significantly higher prevalence of Ancylostomatidae, Toxocara, Toxascaris and Taenidae. These dog populations are an important source of environmental contamination with intestinal parasite forms, which could be of significance to animal and human health.

Epidemiological aspects, haematological and biochemical alterations in some gastrointestinal parasitic diseases of carnivores

“…and Giardia). From the 233 analysed dogs, 63.5% were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, indicating a high degree of intestinal parasitism in these animals [2].…”

“…Dogs can serve as definitive host for a variety of macroparasites, microorganisms and viruses. They are associated with tens of zoonotic diseases which bear a negative impact on human and animal health [1,2]. The most important ones are rabies, echinococosis, toxacariasis, ancylostomiasis, giardiasis, etc.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasite Infections in Stray Dogs in Taif Region, KSA

“…canis prevalence in the current study was (10.07%). It has been documented that T. canis ova were very resistant to extreme weather conditions and chemical agents (Torres-Chablé et al, 2015;Regidor-Cerrillo et al, 2020). Also, it is well known that routes of infection of T. canis include oral, transmammary, and transplacental and that it can be transmitted by paratenic hosts, which let the parasite everlasting in our ecosystem (Corrales et al, 1999).…”

“…The dogs' close contact with humans and other animals obligates their caregivers to systematic deworming (Michalczyk et al, 2019). Dogs play a potential role as reservoirs for zoonotic parasites, being especially problematic uncontrolled dog populations such as stray dogs with access to populated areas (Regidor-Cerrillo et al, 2020). Dogs have close contact with humans and this represents a serious route of transmission of parasites from dogs to man (Martínez-Carrasco, 2007;Zanzani et al, 2014).…”

Oxidative Stress and High-Mobility Group Box 1 Assay in Dogs with Gastrointestinal Parasites

“…Dogs are continuously exposed to parasitic infections, with gastrointestinal helminths being particularly prevalent [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] and with some of them being of zoonotic concern [ 10 ]. A recent epidemiological survey conducted throughout Europe has shown that intestinal nematode infections remain a common occurrence in dogs.…”