Veterinary Sciences (Jul 2023)

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites, Risk Factors and Zoonotic Aspects in Dog and Cat Populations from Goiás, Brazil

  • Juliana Bruno Borges Souza,
  • Zara Mariana de Assis Silva,
  • Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro,
  • Iago de Sá Moraes,
  • Ana Vitória Alves-Sobrinho,
  • Klaus Casaro Saturnino,
  • Henrique Trevizoli Ferraz,
  • Mônica Rodrigues Ferreira Machado,
  • Ísis Assis Braga,
  • Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10080492
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 8
p. 492

Abstract

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Gastrointestinal diseases caused by parasites are frequently diagnosed in the clinical routine of domestic animals, especially dogs and cats. In general, they trigger factors that can affect human health due to zoonoses. Therefore, this study aims to identify the main intestinal parasites obtained from the fecal samples of dogs and cats in the municipality of Jata, Brazil, and their associated risk factors. Between October 2020 and March 2022, fecal samples were collected from 359 dogs and 55 cats through spontaneous defecation and subsequently subjected to coproparasitological analyses using the Willis fluctuation and Hoffman spontaneous sedimentation techniques. The following parasitic species were identified: Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp., Trichuris vulpis, Dipylidium caninum; Giardia spp., Entamoeba spp., Cystoisospora spp., and Platynosomum fastosum. The risk factors associated with parasitism include age, average income of owners, access to garbage, sewage, waste, outdated deworming, and contact with animals. The results demonstrate the need to establish public policies and implement preventive and control measures to reduce the occurrence of parasites in animals and the exposure of humans to pathogenic agents

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