Parasite Pet Study & Zoonotic Concerns

The below is a very interesting publication on the findings of parasites in pets. They used the Flotation Method – Apxr has mentioned that this is not a great method for finding all parasites – I suspect that the figures below could be higher (by a 1/3 or 1/2 maybe?). Nonetheless, it is a helpful indication of what dogs and cats are carrying as an eye-opener. [The original was in one big paragraph and I broke it up for easier reading and highlighted text.]

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12928886?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyst...

Parasitol Res. 2003 Jul;90 Suppl 3:S148-50. Epub 2003 Aug 19

Endoparasites in dogs and cats in Germany 1999-2002

Barutzki D, Schaper R.

Veterinary Laboratory Freiburg, Postfach 100120, D-79120 Freiburg i.Br., Germany.

Infections with endoparasites in dogs and cats have been determined by analysing the results of faecal examinations (Flotation, MIFC, sedimentation, Baermann, smear, ProSpecT Giardia Microplate Assay). Samples of 8438 dogs and 3167 cats from the years 1999 until 2002 have been included in the investigation. 2717 dogs (32.2%) and 771 cats (24.3%) have been infected with endoparasites.

In the infected dogs the following parasites have been identified: Class Nematodea: Toxocara canis: 22.4%, Toxascaris leonina: 1.8%, Ancylostomatidae: 8.6%, Trichuris vulpis: 4.0%, Capillaria spp.: 2.3%, Crenosoma vulpis: 0.9%, Angiostrongylus vasorum: 0.3%; Class Cestodea: Taeniidae: 1.2%, Dipylidium caninum: 0.4%, Diplopylidium/Joyeuxiella: 0.1%, Mesocestoides: 0.2%, Diphyllobothrium latum: < 0.1%; Class Sporozoea: Sarcocystis spp.: 9.0%, Cystoisospora spp.: 22.3%, C. canis: 8.0%, C. ohioensis: 17.0%, Hammondia/Neospora: 1.7%; Class Zoomastigophorea: Giardia spp.: 51.6%.

In the 771 infected cats the following prevalences of parasites have been found: Class Nematodea: Toxocara mystax: 26.2%, Ancylostoma tubaeforme: 0.3%, Capillaria spp.: 7.0%, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: 2.7%; Class Cestodea: Taeniidae: 2.6%, Dipylidium caninum: 0.1%; Class Sporozoea: Sarcocystis spp.: 2.2%, Cystoisospora spp.: 21.9%, C. felis: 15.3%, C. rivolta: 7.9%, Toxoplasma/Hammondia: 4.5%; Class Zoomastigophorea: Giardia spp.: 51.6%.

PMID: 12928886 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11068473?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyst...

Rev Med Brux. 2000 Sep;21(4):A243-5

Acariasis and domestic animals

[Article in French]

Dangoisse C.

Service de Dermatologie, C.H.U. Saint-Pierre, U.L.B.

Various parasitic dermatoses in man can find their origin in domestic animals. Acariasis are skin zoonoses which are not well known by the dermatologists and general practitioners. Due to different ectoparasite mites, the acariasis always cause prurigo in man but different areas of the body are involved. The treatment of the domestic animals usually allows the cure of the owner's skin disease.

PMID: 11068473 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Note: Prurigo is considered a skin disease with persistent eruptions of papules [small raised bumpy area on the skin] causing intense itching. The above citation makes me wonder how many people who are inflicted with an itchy skin disease could be related to an Ascaris and/or mite infection. Doctors prescribe creams and dismissing people believing that it is topical problem when it could be related to an internal/external parasite problem.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6496816?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyste...

Am J Public Health. 1984 Nov;74(11):1239-43

Occurrence and impact of zoonoses in pet dogs and cats at US Air Force bases

Warner RD.

A descriptive epidemiologic study was conducted to quantitate the occurrence of zoonoses in pet animals (almost exclusively dogs and cats) at 30 Air Force bases in nine regions of the United States during 1980 and 1981. Reviews of reported cases of pet-associated zoonoses in humans at these bases were included. Occurrence of a zoonotic disease in dogs and cats was expressed as a ratio of reported cases per 100 rabies vaccinations (cs/Crv). Overall, the four zoonoses reported most frequently from these pets were hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and fleas. Annual ratios revealed geographic variations: for example, hookworms in dogs and cats in the southeast ranged from 12.3 to 9.4 cs/Crv; in the northern Great Plains, hookworms ranged from 0.9 to 0.4 cs/Crv. Dermatomycoses in the southeast ranged from 1.3 to 1.1 cs/Crv, and in Alaska from 0.3 to 0.2 cs/Crv. Quarterly zoonoses occurrence revealed seasonal variations in several regions. Reports of zoonoses in people from these bases indicated that five less frequent zoonoses in dogs and cats (Microsporum canis dermatomycosis, fleas, Sarcoptes scabiei var canis, Gram-positive bacterial infections, and rabies) presented greater acute threats to humans than did the four most frequent zoonoses reported from their pets.

PMID: 6496816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16881410?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyst...

Parassitologia. 2006 Jun;48(1-2):115-6

Dogs' parasite and zoonotic risk: from old to new "emergencies" in the North-West of Italy

Ferroglio E, Romano A, Passera S, D'Angelo A, Guiso P, Ghiggi E, Bolla C, Trisciuoglio A, Biglino A.

Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria Università di Torino. Via L. Da Vinci, 44 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.

Toxocariasis due to soil contamination from dog and cat faeces has been long described and represents one of the zoonotic risk linked with pets presence in human settlements. Soil samples were collected from private backyards and school playgrounds in Turin and tested for the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs. Samples from dogs and cats living in the same area were also analysed and our results seem to indicate a decrease in soil contamination respect to a survey carried out in 1985. Considering that recently new foci of Canine Leishmaniosis and the presence of competent sand fly vectors have also been reported in the North-West of Italy, a survey was carried out on dogs and humans living in Asti province. To assess the risk of local Leishmania infantum transmission between dog and humans, samples were also analysed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Our results have shown that more than 10% of autochthonous dogs and human being living in this previously non-endemic area have been infected by L. infantum. The identity of PCR-RFLP patterns from 3 human clinical cases and from the dogs of one of them allows us to confirm the autochthonous origin of these cases.

PMID: 16881410 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12270734?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyst...

Enteric parasitic zoonoses of domesticated dogs and cats.

Microbes Infect. 2002 Jul;4(8):867-73

Robertson ID, Thompson RC.

Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia.

Dogs and cats are important members of many families; however, they can harbour gastrointestinal parasites that may infect their owners. Some of these parasites, e.g. Echinococcus sp., can have a significant impact on human health. However, with appropriate education, management and anthelmintic regimes, zoonotic transmission of these parasites can be minimised.

PMID: 12270734 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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The below link only has the title of a publication which I find intriguing (along with others missing) – if anyone finds this publication someplace, please post it if it is worth the read. Thanks

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15156655?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSyst...

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 2004 May 1;129(9):301-2

Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), USA. Independent advisory council for controlling internal and external parasites who pose a public health threat to humans and animals

[Article in Dutch]

Overgaauw PA.

PMID: 15156655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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