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. 2023 Oct 13;32(3):e005723.
doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612023061. eCollection 2023.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in a rural area of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Alisson Andrade Arruda  1 , Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani  2 , Simone Silmara Werner  3 , Bruna Fernanda da Silva  1
Affiliations

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in a rural area of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Alisson Andrade Arruda et al. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

We investigated the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in rural areas of the municipality of Painel, Santa Catarina, Brazil. For this, 91 canine feces samples were collected from 82 farms between August, 2017 and January, 2018. These fecal materials were processed using the techniques of spontaneous sedimentation, centrifugation-floatation in zinc sulfate and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. A questionnaire in the form of an interview was administered to the dogs' owner and information about the farm and the main care provided for the dogs was obtained. Among 91 sampled dogs, 27 (29.7%) were positive for at least one parasite species. Ancylostoma was the most prevalent genus (16.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (14.3%), Trichuris vulpis (6.6%), Toxocara canis (5.5%), Entamoeba spp. (4.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.3%) and Taeniidae (1.1%). Most dogs do not receive veterinarian care and rarely received antiparasitic treatment. They were free to roam and had free access to animal remains and garbage, which was reflected in the significant associations with the occurrence of parasites that were found. We conclude that rural dogs harbor gastrointestinal parasites, but that their owners are unaware of the risks that these parasites can bring to human health.

Foi investigada a ocorrência de parasitos gastrintestinais com potencial zoonótico, em cães de área rural do munícipio de Painel, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Para isso, foram colhidas amostras de fezes de 91 cães de 82 propriedades rurais, no período de agosto de 2017 a janeiro de 2018. Este material fecal foi processado pelas técnicas de sedimentação espontânea, centrífugo-flutuação em sulfato de zinco e coloração pelo Ziehl-Neelsen. Um questionário em forma de entrevista foi aplicado aos tutores dos cães e foram obtidas informações sobre a propriedade rural e principais cuidados com os cães. Entre as 91 amostras de fezes, em 27 (29,7%) foi detectada a presença de parasitos gastrintestinais, sendo Ancylostoma o gênero mais prevalente (15 / 16,5%), seguido por Giardia duodenalis (13 / 14,3%), Trichuris vulpis (6 / 6,6%), Toxocara canis (5 / 5,5%), Entamoeba spp. (4 / 4,8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3 / 3,3%) e Taeniidae (1 / 1,1%). A maioria dos cães não recebia cuidados veterinários ou antiparasitários. Concluiu-se que os cães de área rural albergam parasitos gastrintestinais, porém seus tutores desconhecem os riscos que esses parasitos podem trazer para a saúde humana.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Cysts and eggs from gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from dogs in a rural area of Santa Catarina, Brazil. (A) Giardia duodenalis (B) Toxocara canis and (C) Entamoeba spp.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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