High prevalence of intestinal infections and ectoparasites in dogs, Minas Gerais State (southeast Brazil)

Abstract

In the present study, 155 dogs euthanized by the Zoonotic Disease Unit of Uberlândia in Minas Gerais State (Southeast Brazil) were autopsied. Ectoparasites were collected, and the intestinal content of dogs was systematically examined for the presence of helminthic parasites. In total, we isolated 5,155 metazoan parasites of eight species (three intestinal helminth species, five ectoparasite species). The cestode Dipylidium caninum was present in 57 dogs (36.8 %), the nematodes Ancylostoma caninum in 30 (19.4 %) and Toxocara canis in 24 (15.5 %), respectively. Among the ectoparasites, 139 (89.7 %) dogs were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 115 (74.2 %) with Ctenocephalides felis, 5 (3.2 %) with Tunga penetrans and one specimen (0.7 %) with Amblyomma cajennense, while myiasis was found in one dog (0.7 %). In logistic regression analysis, young age (adjusted odds ratio 5.74; 95 % confidence interval 1.18-27.85) and male sex (3.60; 1.24-10.40) were significantly associated with toxocariasis, and crossbreed dogs (8.20; 1.52-44.31), with dipylidiasis. Male (2.23; 1.12-4.43) and crossbreed dogs (5.17; 1.17-22.83) had also a significant higher number of concomitant parasitoses. Spatial distribution of dogs by neighbourhood identified high-risk areas. Our systematic study shows that dogs in Uberlândia carry a high number of parasites which may cause zoonotic diseases in humans; therefore, further specific evidence-based intervention measures are needed.

Risk factors for gastrointestinal parasite infections of dogs living around protected areas of the Atlantic Forest: implications for human and wildlife health

“…The most prevalent dog parasite taxa found here (Ancylostoma, Toxocara and Trichuris) did not differ from other studies from urban areas in Brazil (Oliveira-Sequeira et al, 2002;Balassiano et al, 2009;Klimpel et al, 2010;Heukelbach et al, 2012). However, the other less common rural dog parasites found are quite different than those from Brazilian urban areas, probably due to the proximity with other host species, whether wild or domestic animals.…”

“…The lack of influence of gender on infection and the significantly high proportion of young dogs infected with Toxocara are in accordance with other studies (e.g. Fontanarrosa et al, 2006;Katagiri and Oliveira-Sequeira, 2008;Balassiano et al, 2009), but disagrees with the results of Heukelbach et al (2012), who found that males were more infected with Toxocara. Purebred dogs are more likely to be infected with Trichuris, according to both chi-square tests and logistic regressions (with almost 250 times the chances), what is contrary to previous findings (Fontanarrosa et al, 2006;Balassiano et al, 2009).…”

“…However, studies reporting prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Brazil are mostly restricted to urban areas (e.g. Oliveira-Sequeira et al, 2002;Balassiano et al, 2009;Klimpel et al, 2010;Heukelbach et al, 2012). Rural dogs, particularly those living around protected areas, i.e.…”

Dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in Brazil: opening the black box

“…Therefore, it is presently difficult to generate informative, bona fide maps for most dog and cat parasites occurring in Brazil, even if most of these parasites are certainly present in all regions of the country. For instance, in a study carried out in south-eastern Brazil, 155 dogs were necropsied and D. caninum was diagnose in 57 (36.8%) of them, A. caninum in 30 (19.4%), and T. canis in 24 (15.5%) [36]. Similarly, a study conducted in north-eastern Brazil, revealed that A. caninum (prevalence, 95.7%) was the most prevalent endoparasite in 46 stray dogs necropsied, followed by D. caninum (45.7%), T. canis (8.7%), and T. vulpis (4.3%) [32].…”

Geohelminth contamination of public areas and epidemiological risk factors in Curitiba, Brazil

“…and Strongyloidea superfamily members (RUBEL;WISNIVESKY, 2010). Hookworms and roundworms are usually the most prevalent parasites in Brazil and their importance changes according to the region studied (GUIMARÃES et al, 2005; KATAGIRI; OLIVEIRA-SEQUEIRA, HEUKELBACH et al, 2012). Thus, infected animals can play a major epidemiological role as the source of infection for naïve animals, as well as in transmitting zoonotic diseases to the human population (TORGERSON et al, 2009).…”