Abstract
BackgroundCanine life stage is a key factor in parasite prevalence as clinical signs associated with parasitism are more common in pups. In adult dogs, health status and geographical region may also play a role in parasite prevalence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fecal test results using zinc sulfate flotation by centrifugation combined with fecal antigen testing for hookworms (Ancylostoma spp. Uncinaria stenocephala), ascarids (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris spp., Baylisascaris spp.) and whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) sorted by age, geographical region and veterinary visit type.MethodsA retrospective sample of intestinal parasite panels submitted to IDEXX Laboratories from 1,626,104 individual dogs were selected from the continental USA from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. These data contain results from fecal exams performed using zinc sulfate flotation by centrifugation paired with coproantigen immunoassay results for hookworms, ascarids, whipworms and Giardia (Fecal Dx® with Giardia coproantigen immunoassay plate). For paired testing, if either the coproantigen assay or flotation test was positive, the sample was considered to be positive. Data were summarized by age category, U.S. Census Bureau geographical region (Northeast, South, Midwest, West) and veterinary visit type. Visit types were subdivided into Wellness Visits and Other Clinical Visits in which a fecal sample was submitted.ResultsIn dogs presenting for either Wellness Visits or Other Clinical Visits in which Giardia testing was included, Giardia had the highest positivity (combined results for microscopy and coproantigen: 12.2 and 10.8%, respectively), followed by hookworms (combined microscopy and coproantigen: 4.1 and 4.2%, respectively), ascarids (combined microscopy and coproantigen: 2.5 and 1.7%, respectively) and whipworms (combined microscopy and coproantigen: 1.1 and 1.4%, respectively). When all test results were pooled together, pups aged 2–6 months were observed to have the highest proportion of positive results by either microscopy or coproantigen immunoassay regardless of clinical visit type. Parasite positivity varied by geographical region. Regardless of visit type, age or geographical region, the coproantigen method was observed to find a higher proportion of positive test results than microscopy in Giardia, ascarids, hookworms and whipworms.ConclusionsThe Fecal Dx® coproantigen immunoassay combined with the zinc sulfate flotation by centrifugation method uncovers a higher number of positive hookworm, ascarid and whipworm infections than zinc sulfate flotation alone in both pups and adult dogs across all geographical regions of the USA regardless of visit type.Graphical
Highlights
Canine life stage is a key factor in parasite prevalence as clinical signs associated with parasitism are more common in pups
The total study population included in the analysis consisted of 1,903,852 fecal tests from canines; Giardia coproantigen testing was not a criterion for inclusion
In results from dogs presenting for a Wellness Visit in which Giardia testing was included, Giardia had the highest positivity, followed by hookworms, ascarids, Eimeria spp., Cystoisospora, whipworms and tapeworms, (Table 1)
Summary
Canine life stage is a key factor in parasite prevalence as clinical signs associated with parasitism are more common in pups. A recently published study highlighted the prevalence of common intestinal parasites even in well-cared dogs [1]. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends that pups receive fecal testing two to four times during their first year of life, as canine life stage has been shown to be a key factor in parasite prevalence [2]. Clinical signs associated with certain parasites (e.g. Cystoisospora, Ancylostoma, ascarids, Giardia) have been observed to be more common in pups [3, 4]. Fecal testing should be conducted on any dog presenting with clinical signs consistent with intestinal parasitism, including dogs with intermittent or persistent diarrhea (CAPC guidelines) [2]
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