Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Giardia infection rates and types in dogs in Israel
By Salant, Harold et al.·Published in Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases·2020·Koret School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in dogs in Israel.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 24.5% of dogs tested in Israel had Giardia, a parasite that can cause diarrhea. Puppies under 6 months old were more likely to be infected, with 41% testing positive, compared to older dogs. The infection was also more common in winter and among dogs with diarrhea, where over half of the affected dogs showed symptoms. This highlights the importance of monitoring young and shelter dogs for Giardia, especially during colder months, to prevent outbreaks.
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Abstract
Three hundred and two stool samples were collected from municipal shelters and owned dogs in different geographical locations in Israel from December 2016 to September 2017 and examined for Giardia and assemblage type by PCR targeting the 18S rRNA and β-giardin genes. Overall Giardia prevalence was 24.5 % (74/30). Giardia prevalence was 1.9-fold higher in dogs ≤ 6 months old compared to > 6 ≤ 12 months old and older dogs [25/61 (41 %), 18/73 (24.6 %) and 31/166 (18.7 %), respectively, (p = 0.001)], 2.3-fold higher in winter [32/90 (35.5 %)] compared to its prevalence during autumn [15/60 (25 %)], spring [10/62 (16.1 %)] and summer [17/89 (19.1 %), p = 0.003)], and 2.7-fold more frequent among diarrheic dogs [23/43 (53.4 %)] compared to those with formed stools [51/253 (20.1 %)], (p = 0.001)]. The Giardia sp. assemblages detected were C and D. Higher infection rates in young, diarrheic dogs, sampled during winter, and housed in municipal shelters, indicates the need for targeted preventive measures.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32947251/