Abstract
BackgroundIn Canada, surveys of enteric parasites in dogs and cats have been reported sporadically over the past 40 years, mostly focusing on a specific region. The present work was performed to determine the current prevalence of various parasites in fecal samples from shelter dogs and cats across the Canadian provinces.MethodsA total of 1086 dog and 636 cat fecal samples from 26 shelters were analysed using a sugar solution double centrifugal flotation technique. Prevalences (national, regional, provincial, age and parasite-specific), were calculated and compared using the Fisher-Exact test. A multiplex PCR was performed to distinguish Taenia spp, Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis on samples positive for taeniid eggs.ResultsOverall, 33.9% of dogs and 31.8% of cats were positive for at least one parasite. Toxocara canis and T. cati were the most prevalent parasite present in fecal samples followed by Cystoisospora spp. Prevalence in dogs was similar across the Atlantic, East, West and Pacific regions, while prevalence in cats varied regionally. Eggs of E. granulosus/E. canadensis were detected in samples from dogs from BC, AB, and ON.ConclusionsData from this study will help in the development of strategies, based on the level of risk per geographic location for the prevention and response to these parasites in pets and free-roaming and shelter animals in Canada.
Highlights
In Canada, surveys of enteric parasites in dogs and cats have been reported sporadically over the past 40 years, mostly focusing on a specific region
Eleven different species of parasites were identified in dogs and eight in cats
Of the dogs that tested positive for any parasite on fecal analysis, 67% were infected with a single species of parasite and 33% with multiple species
Summary
In Canada, surveys of enteric parasites in dogs and cats have been reported sporadically over the past 40 years, mostly focusing on a specific region. In Canada, of particular concern are Toxocara species, Baylisascaris procyonis, Echinococcus granulosus (E. canadensis) and E. multilocularis, Cryptosporidium and Giardia species, and Toxoplasma gondii. These parasites occur in other domestic animals and/or wildlife hosts in Canada, which in some circumstances can be important sources of human infection. 40 years, based primarily on fecal examinations These include studies of dogs in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) [1], on the island of St. Pierre (off the south coast of NL and technically part of France) [2], in aboriginal communities in Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK) and the Northwest Territories (NT) [3,4,5], in Saskatoon (SK) [6,7], in Calgary (AB) [8], and visiting veterinary hospitals in Ontario (ON) [9]. A few surveys detected Cryptosporidium in dogs or cats [5,11,16,17,18]
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