Detection of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cats and Dogs in Basrah Province

Nadia K. Thamer, Suhair R. Al-Idreesi, Noor Naiim Farhood

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, Iraq.

Corresponding author email: nadia.thamer@uobasrah.edu.iq

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5410-1665

DOI:

Accepted: Nov. 2022

Abstract

The present study has been conducted for the detection of gastrointestinal parasites isolated from cats and dogs in Basrah province from November 2018 to January 2019. One hundred fecal samples were collected from cats and dogs. Samples were submitted to the parasite’s lab in college of veterinary medicine of Basrah university. for diagnoses by direct microscopic examination and concentration methods. Gastrointestinal parasites of cat identified in this study were: Toxascaris leonine 58.8%, Toxoplasma gondii 11.7, Isospora spp   11.7%, Entamoeba spp.17.6% , and for dog were Dipylidium caninum 21%, Toxocara canis 10.5%, Isospora canis 36.8%, Cryptosporidium spp. 5.2%, Giardia spp. 10.5%, Entamoeba spp. 5.2% , Ancylostoma caninum 10.5%,

Key words: gastrointestinal parasite, cats, dogs.

Introduction

Intestinal parasites of dogs and cats are distributed worldwide. Though some differences can be noticed between stray and shelter dogs, and even in pets in general, veterinarian concern for these parasites is still living matter due to their zoonotic potential and their significant pathogen effects on carnivore hosts (1). Dogs and cats are the natural hosts of the parasitic disease, like nematodes, cestodes and trematodes (2). It isn't always easy to tell if your dog has worms, unless the dog has a heavy infestation thus making the symptoms more obvious (2). Parasites can cause a serious problem for all animal species; furthermore, some parasitic worms can spread from animals to humans, or spread to the habitat, which cause a high scale for contamination habitat (2). Several causes might have affected observed variability in intestinal parasite infections, such as host individual features, management, prophylactic treatments, and diagnostic techniques (3). While many potentially zoonotic organisms are associated with dogs and cats, enteric pathogens are de particular concern (4). Intestinal helminths are one of the most common pathogenic agents in dogs and cats (5). Among intestinal helminths, Toxocara and hookworm species of dogs and cats are most important to public health. The infections caused by these parasites receive great attention especially in developing countries and communities that may be socioeconomically challenged (4) and they are responsible for some important zoonotic diseases (6). Diagnosis is based on   recovery of eggs by fecal flotation. The use of proper fecal flotation techniques is important. The specific gravity flotation solution should be between 1.1 and 1.2 (g/mL) (7). The aim of this study is to identify of gastrointestinal parasites infected cat and dog in Basrah province.

Materials and methods

Samples Collection: One hundred fecal samples were collected from (50) cats and (50) dogs in Basrah province, in a period from November 2018 to January 2019.

Identification methods

Laboratory examination: Fecal samples were subjected to macroscopical; color, diarrhea, softy and semi-solid feces, and microscopical examination. Diagnosis of parasite eggs was carried by applying direct microscopic examination and concentration method, according to techniques and morphological characteristics suggested by (8- 10).

Results

 In this study, the direct microscopic examination and concentration methods to the fecal samples of cats and dogs showed the infection with the gastrointestinal parasites (figure 1). They are identified as; Dipylidium caninum 21%, Toxocara canis 10.5%, Isospora canis 36.8%, Cryptosporidium spp. 5.2%, Giardia spp. 10.5%, Entamoeba sp. 5.2%, Ancylostoma caninum 10.5%, Toxascaris leonine 55.5%,Toxoplasma gondii 11.1, Isospora 11.1%, Entamoeba spp.16.6% The percentage of gastrointestinal parasites species infection in cats and dogs were seen in (Table 1) (Table 2). According to data, gastrointestinal parasites infection cats were (55 %) in November, (22.2%) in December, and (25%) in January (Table 4). According to data, gastrointestinal parasite infection dogs were (50 %) in November, (31.2%) in December, and (20 %) in January (Table 5).

Figure (1) Direct smear examination and concentration methods of fecal samples of dogs (A-Dipylidium caninum(100X), B-Toxocara canis egg(100X), C-Isospora canin(40X), D-Cryptosporidium spp. Oocyst(40X), E-Giardia spp. Cyst(40X), F-Entamoeba spp(40X).,G-Ancylostoma caninum(40X)) and cats (H- Toxascaris leonine(40X), J-Toxoplasma gondii(100X), K-Isospora(40X), N-Entamoeba spp. (100X))

Table (1) Percentage of gastrointestinal parasite species in cat

N.P = Number positive (%) =Percentage

Table (2) Percentage of gastrointestinal parasite species in dogs.

N.P = Number positive, (%)=Percentage.

Table (3) Relation of gastrointestinal parasites infection with months of year in cats.

N.E = Number examined,  N.I =Number infected,  (%)=Percentage.

Table (4) Relation of gastrointestinal parasites infection with months of year in dog.

N.E = Number examined, N.I =Number infected,  (%)=Percentage.

 Discussion

 Dogs and cats are important reservoir hosts of various zoonotic helminthes (11). Canine and feline parasites are susceptible to the effects of environmental conditions and to climate change due to their developmental stages and their survival periods in the environment (1). This study was reported the percentage of the zoonotic parasite are include; Cryptosporidium, Giardia sp., Entamoeba spp., Toxocara spp. Ancylostoma caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. The results of this study showed that the percentage of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among dogs and cats of areas in Basrah is high. As many of the identified gastrointestinal parasite species can have significant health implications, it is important to have an understanding of regional parasite burden so that public health effects can be minimized.

The percentage of parasites infection dog this study ; Ancylostoma caninum 10.5%, Dipylidium caninum 21%, Toxocara canis 10.5%, Isospora canin 36.8%, Cryptosporidium spp. 5.2%, Giardia spp. 10.5%, and Entamoeba spp. 5.2%, which that agreement with (12) found Isospora canis  67.5%, Gairdia spp. 24.1% and Cryptosporidium spp. 20.8% in Baghdad, (13) were reported  ; Dipylidium caninum 4.7%, Toxocara canis 34.4%, Isospora canin 1.7%, Cryptosporidium spp. 7.8%, Giardia spp. 15.6%, Entamoeba spp. 3.2%, and Ancylostoma caninum 86% in Malaysia and (14) recorded  Ancylostoma caninum  (0.97%) in Italy. Toxocara canis was recorded in Iraq, 1957 (15). However, this study recorded a high rate of 10.5% that means the infection still epizootic and may be transmitted to a human. That proved recently by serological survey (a commercial ELISA test), the rate of Toxocariasis in sick children was 30.8% in Mosul province (16) while (17) they reported Ancylostoma caninum (7.5%) in Basrah, (18)found Ancylostoma caninum (41.2%) in Iran, (17) were found of Isospora canis (6.5%) in Basrah, (19) was found  Ancylostoma caninum  (2%) in Sulaimani, (20) Whose reported Isospora spp. (9.3%) and Ancylostoma caninum  (2.2%) in Duhok, The current study revealed high a rate of 10.5% of Hookworm infection that include genus Ancylostoma, them were recorded for the first time in Iraq by (21, 22). This high rate of infection disagrees with (23) who recorded a low rate of 2% in Kalar city province of Sulaimani. The variation may be due to differences in temperatures and moisture between Basrah and Sulaimani (24). Also, the percentage which reported in this study of parasiteinfected cat were  Toxascaris leonine 58.8%,Toxoplasma gondi 11.7%, Isospora 11.7% and Entamoeba sp.17.6%, which that agreement with  (25) from Basrah province with a prevalence of Toxascaris leonine  (2%), (26) from Al-Diwaniya province which records a prevalence of Toxascaris leonine  (7%), (27) Toxocara spp. (3.5 %) in Bangkok, while (28) from Mosul city with a prevalence of Toxascaris leonine  (30%) and (13) whose found Toxascaris leonine 8%, Isospora 4%, and Entamoeba spp.12%.

All studied months appeared presence of gastrointestinal parasites, However, December and November appeared the high rates of infection that is similar to (29) who also recorded a high percentage infection during the winter months.

Conclusions

In Basrah, the percentage of the gastrointestinal parasites in pet dogs and cats is high suggesting the need for efficient control measures through regular diagnostic testing, the deworming pattern of dogs and cats, preventive measures, and effective therapeutic protocols against them. Further studies are necessary to identify the potentially zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and cats within the different communities in Basrah province.

conflict of Interest

The author(s) declared that there is no conflict of interest.

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