Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasite infections common in young dogs and their risk factors
By Murnik, Lea-Christina et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2023·Institute of Parasitology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gastrointestinal parasites in young dogs and risk factors associated with infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that over 41% of young dogs in Central Germany tested positive for gastrointestinal parasites, with Giardia being the most common. Symptoms of these infections can include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss, which pet owners should watch for. The research identified that factors like where the dogs came from and their living conditions increased the risk of infection. It's important for dog owners to be aware of these parasites and discuss preventive measures with their veterinarian, especially if their dog shows any signs of illness.
People also search for: young dog diarrhea treatment · Giardia in dogs symptoms · how to prevent parasites in puppies
Abstract
Young dogs are particularly susceptible to infections with endoparasites. The occurrence of endoparasites was investigated in young dogs from Central Germany between July 2020 and July 2022. In total, 386 fecal samples originating from 171 dogs were examined for the prevalence of endoparasites using a combined flotation- and sedimentation technique and conventional PCR. Overall, in 41.2% (159/386) of the examined samples, endoparasites were detected. The most frequently occurring endoparasites were Giardia duodenalis (29%), Cryptosporidium spp. (9.1%), Cystoisospora spp. (7.3%), and Toxocara canis (6%). Sequencing of G. duodenalis positive samples showed that most infections belonged to the host-specific assemblages C (38.4% (43/112)) and D (35.7% (40/112)). The zoonotic assemblage A was identified in 8% (9/112) of the samples. Moreover, mixed infections were observed as follows: C/D in 5 (4.5%), D/A in 4 (3.6%), and C/A in 3 (2.7%) samples. All assemblage A infections were assigned to the potentially zoonotic subassemblage AI. Co-infections of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were observed in 3.1% (12/386) of the samples. Analyzing several host factors for their potential association with endoparasitic infection, the origin of dogs, as well as the living environment were identified as the main risk factors for infection with endoparasites. Overall, this study shows a high infection rate with endoparasites, especially G. duodenalis, in young dogs from Germany. The results of this study contribute to further insight into the distribution and potential risk factors associated with endoparasitic infections, as well as the zoonotic potential these parasites may present.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36544014/