Occurrence of Endoparasites in Adult Swedish Dogs: A Coprological Investigation

Abstract

The occurrence of endoparasites in Swedish adult dogs (n = 303) was investigated between January and October 2014. Included dogs had to be clinically healthy, older than 1 year and untreated with anthelmintics or endectocides for at least 3 months prior to sampling. They were grouped according to age, category of dog and time since last antiparasitic treatment. Samples were analyzed by flotation to detect parasitic eggs and cysts/oocysts. Among these, 129 (43%) dogs were also analyzed with the Baermann-technique to detect cardiopulmonary larval stages. Parasite dispersal stages were found in 24 (7.9%, CI 95% 4.9–10.1) of the dogs at flotation, while no dog shed cardiopulmonary larval stages. Giardia sp. cysts were observed in 2.6% (n = 8) of dogs examined, cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 0.6% (n = 2), oocysts of Cystosisopora ohioensis were found in one dog (0.3%). Eggs of Toxocara canis (2.3%, n = 7), Uncinaria stenocephala (1.3%, n = 4) and Trichuris vulpis (0.3%, one dog) were found. None of the dogs were diagnosed with more than one species. Although the occurrence of endoparasites was above the average in dogs ≤ 2 years of age (11.5%), nematodes were more common in older dogs ≥4 years (77.0%). Although the occurrence was lower in working/exhibition dogs (5.9%) than in companion dogs (8.4%) and hunting-dogs (8.6%), these differences were not significant. However, dogs exposed to prey according to the owner had a statistically significant higher prevalence than other dogs (20.5 vs. 5.7%). The Odds Ratio (OR) was 4.0 (CI 95%, 1.58–10.11) for dogs having access to prey, 2.4 (CI 95%, 0.37–8.06) for dogs staying at day-care, and 2 (CI 95%, 0.96–5.96) for bitches. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between infection with nematodes and exposures to prey (p = 0.006). As a reference, data on the endoparasites in canine fecal samples submitted to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA, Uppsala) during 2014 are presented. Overall, this study shows a low occurrence of endoparasites among dogs in Sweden. Any risk-assessment on zoonotic parasites as well as deworming recommendations will take advantage from these updated figures.

Gastrointestinal parasites in young dogs and risk factors associated with infection

“…All dogs positive for taeniid eggs were living in rural areas, indicating that contact with wildlife or livestock animals increases the risk of patent taeniid infection by dogs (Grandi et al 2021 ; Waindok et al 2021 ). This is supported by a previous study regarding wild gray wolves in Lower Saxony (Germany), where Taeniidae were found as the second most prevalent parasites (21.74%) (Bindke et al 2019 ).…”

Deworming Schemes’ Efficacy for Adult Dogs with Mixed Gastro-Intestinal Helminthoses

“…However, such helminthoses are rare in the form of mono-infections. The main component of co-infections is usually Toxocara (T.) canis (W e r n e r, 1782) in puppies or young dogs and Trichuris (T.) vulpis (F r o e l i c h, 1789) in adult dogs [10,14,31,48]. Other members of helminthic parasitocenoses in dogs are usually Toxascaris (T.) leoninа (L i ns t o w, 1902), representatives of Ancylostomatidae family-Uncinaria (U.)…”