Retrospective and Comparative Study of Giardia sp. Prevalence in Dogs, Cats, and Small Ruminants in Endemic Areas in Different Brazilian States

Abstract

Background: Giardia, an intestinal parasite of asexual reproduction, is an important etiologic agent of diarrhea in animals and humans, transmitted by orofecal route. The disease caused by this agent, giardiasis, is endemic in the world and representing an important public health problem. The aim of the present study was do a retrospective study to determine the prevalence of Giardia sp. in fecal samples from dogs, cats, sheep and goats (small ruminants) evaluated at FMVZ Unesp, Botucatu, SP. In addition, this study presents a review of the literature on the prevalence of this protozoan in dogs, cats and small ruminants in different states of Brazil, according to the environmental of these animals. Materials, Methods & Results:During 2011 to 2017, 2,698 fecal samples of dogs, 359 fecal samples of cats and 320 fecal samples of goats and sheep were analyzed. A total of 18.9% of the dogs, 24.8% of the cats, and 6.6% of the goats and sheep were positive for Giardia sp. Only previous studies that used the zinc sulphate centrifugal flotation (Faust technique) were included for comparation of prevalence. The prevalence of Giardia sp. in samples of centrifugation-fluctuation in zinc sulfate was similar in dogs, higher in cats and lower for small ruminants when compared to previous investigations. 4.4% and 6.7% of the positive samples from dogs and cats, respectively, were associated with some co-infection. Co-infections by Cystoisospora spp., Ancylostoma spp. and/ or Toxocara spp. were the most common for dogs and cats. Discussion: This study reveals the presence of Giardia sp. in different animal species in an endemic area. The results are similar to the prevalence previous reported in dogs, and higher in cats using the same diagnostic technique (Faust technique). Co-infections by Cystoisospora spp., Ancylostoma spp. and/ or Toxocara spp. were the most common for dogs and cats, as well-known in previous studies. Investigations with household, shelter and stray dogs found a significantly lower occurrence of Giardia sp. in the group of household dogs. However, for cats these comparisons should made with caution. Despite having a owner, some of these cats have free access to the streets, so they might be more expose to the sources of infection. There are few previous reports of the presence of Giardia sp. in goats and sheep, which presented much higher prevalence when compared with this study. This variation in prevalance of Giardia sp. in small ruminants can occur due to differences inherent to each region in Brazil, as well as the presence of risck factors regarding animal age, type of raising of the animals, hygienic-sanitary and management conditions, and the presence of domestic animals inside sheep and goat installations, which can potentially favor the mechanical transmission of cysts or reservoirs of this parasite. Therefore, due to regional variations in this parasite prevalence, this information is more value in regional areas, reaffirming the importance of this kind of studies in brazilian states and cities. The...

Parasites of Zoonotic Interest Detected in Felis catus domesticus in Midwestern Brazil

“…In Brazil, the prevalence of Giardia sp. in animals ranges from 5.0 to 38.1% (BRINKER et al, 2009;COELHO et al, 2009;DALL'AGNOL et al, 2010;FERREIRA et al, 2013;FERRAZ et al, 2019;FUNADA et al, 2007;MORAES et al, 2019;MÓSENA et al, 2019), but rates are known to depend on geography and detection method, as well as on the animals' age, habits, and clinical condition (BALLWEBER et al, 2010).…”

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Giardia duodenalis Infection in Cats in Mexico

“…One of the most common parasites in the small animal clinic is Giardia spp. [1]. Most infections are usually subclinical; however, there may also be acute or chronic diarrhoea [2].…”

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