Endoparasites in dogs and cats diagnosed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the University of Prince Edward Island between 2000 and 2017. A large-scale retrospective study

Publication date: Available online 23 December 2019Source: Preventive Veterinary MedicineAuthor(s): Benedetto Morandi, Spencer J. Greenwood, Gary A. Conboy, Roberta Galuppi, Giovanni Poglayen, John A. VanLeeuwenAbstractAlthough many studies on the frequency of endoparasites in dogs and cats in Canada have been reported, seasonal and/or annual patterns are often not evaluated. The frequency and risk factors of endoparasite infections from fecal samples of cats and dogs submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island-Canada were determined, using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Investigated predictors of endoparasitism available in the 2000 to 2017 database included sex, age, geographic origin and seasonality. A total of 15,016 dogs and 2,391 cats were evaluated for endoparasite status using specific diagnostic tests: direct smear, Baermann, and/or 33% zinc sulfate solution in a standardized centrifugal flotation method. Overall, twelve and eight parasite genera were detected in dogs and cats, respectively. The overall proportional infection was 14.6%, and the cat population showed a higher frequency of positivity to parasites compared to the dog population (P < 0.001). The most frequent genera recovered in the whole population (dogs and cats), were Giardia duodenalis (5.2%), Cystoisospora spp. (3.3%) and Toxocara spp. (3.2%). Endoparasitism levels were diagnosed more in fec...
Source: Preventive Veterinary Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research