Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in dogs and cats in Iran
By Homayouni, Mohamad Mohsen et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2019·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis in household dogs and cats from Shiraz, Southwestern Iran.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that a small number of household dogs and cats in Southwestern Iran had infections from parasites called Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Out of 615 pets tested, only a few showed signs of these parasites, with Giardia being more common in younger dogs, especially those with diarrhea. The researchers identified specific types of these parasites in the pets, but overall, the findings suggest that dogs and cats are not major sources of these infections for humans. If your pet has diarrhea or other symptoms, it's a good idea to consult your veterinarian for testing and treatment options.
People also search for: dog diarrhea causes · Giardia treatment for dogs · cat diarrhea symptoms · Cryptosporidium in pets · puppy parasite prevention
Abstract
In the present study, a total of 615 fecal samples from veterinary clinics were screened by microscopy for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocysts. Molecular genotyping of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were carried out using PCR and sequence analysis. Overall, Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocysts were detected in the 0.6% (2/315) and 1.9% (6/315) of dogs and in the 0.7% (2/300) and 1.3% (4/300) of cats, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of C. canis (n = 2) in dogs and C. felis (n = 2) in cats. Moreover, G. intestinalisassemblage D (n = 2), C (n = 3) and A, sub-assemblage AII (n = 1) were identified in dogs; G. intestinalis assemblage F (n = 3) and assemblage A, sub-assemblage AI (n = 1) were identified in cats. The highest prevalence of Giardia was observed in dogs younger than one year (6/315), and in those with diarrhea (p < 0.05). Data of the study suggest that dogs and cats play a minor role in the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in Southwestern Iran.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31955553/