Prevalence and risk factors of Giardia spp. from free living and owned dogs in Tunja-Boyacá, Colombia

Abstract

Giardia spp. is a zoonotic protozoan that causes acute gastroenteritis in humans and other animal species across the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia spp. in free living and owned dogs from Tunja - Colombia by Ritchie concentration method and to identify the risk factors (living condition, age, sex, stool consistency, body condition and hair condition) associated with infection. To address the objective a cross-sectional study was carried out. The study population consisted of 200 dogs. Faecal samples were collected from 100 stray dogs and 100 owned dogs using a convenient sampling method. Risk factors were analysed by logistic regression analysis. Risk was expressed as an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Descriptive epidemiology and risk factors were performed using EpiInfo software. A P value of <0.05 was statistically significant. The overall prevalence of Giardia spp. was 39%; cysts were detected by microscopy in 38 of 100 stray dogs and 40 of 100 owned dogs. It was concluded that the prevalence of Giardia spp. in Tunja city was high, with no distinction between stray and owned dogs. We also found that the analysed variables (sex, age, hair condition, body condition and stool consistency) did not constitute risk factors for infection with Giardia spp.