engleski

The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs from Zagreb area

Dogs can harbor a variety of parasites in digestive tract, which cause gastro-intestinal disturbances. At the same time several species have a zoonotic potential. In the current study fecal samples from 2, 335 dogs were analyzed in the period from 2012 to 2015. The fecal samples were collected by the dog owners and delivered to Croatian Veterinary Institute Laboratory for parasitology, through veterinary clinics, due to gastrointestinal disorders, mostly from the Zagreb area. Coprological examinations were conducted with the flotation technique, using magnesium sulfate with direct immunofluorescence for detection of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. The results are presented by year for better visibility. The overall prevalence in 2012 was 48.1%: Giardia duodenalis (23.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (8.0%), Toxocara canis (4.5%), Isospora spp. (4.7%), Toxascaris leonina (0.7%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (0.5%), Trichuris vulpis (5.2%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%), Capillaria spp. (0.2%). A single-pathogen was detected 55.2%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 44.8%. The overall prevalence in 2013 was 57.7%: Giardia duodenalis (26.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. (10.8%), Toxocara canis (5.0%), Isospora spp. (5.3%), Toxascaris leonina (0.9%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (12.0%), Trichuris vulpis (5.3%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%), Capillaria spp. (1.1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.5%). A single-pathogen was detected in 60.4%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 38.6%. The overall prevalence in 2014 was 64.9%: Giardia duodenalis (26.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (18.7%), Toxocara canis (4.7%), Isospora spp. (5.0%), Toxascaris leonina (1.5%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (3.2%), Trichuris vulpis (3.9%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.2%), Capillaria spp. (0.7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.1%). A single-pathogen was detected in 51.8%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 48.2%. The overall prevalence in 2015 was 56.6%: Giardia duodenalis (26.3%), Cryptosporidium spp. (16.4%), Toxocara canis (3.6%), Isospora spp. (4.8%), Toxascaris leonina (0.6%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (1.6%), Trichuris vulpis (1.4%), Sarcocystis sp. (1.8%), Capillaria spp. (0.2%). A single-pathogen was detected in 45.1%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 54.9%. The most common co-infection in all years was with Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. The results of current study clearly show the need for regular fecal analysis to exclude parasites as common agents causing GI problems. Also, it is quite important to reconsider routine dechelminisation programs since protozooan parasites were most frequently detected.

gastrointestinal parasites, coprological analyses, dogs, Zagreb

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