Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasite infections in hunting dogs from southern Italy
By Ricci, Alessia et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of Capillaria spp. and other endoparasites of hunting dogs from southern Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of hunting dogs in Southern Italy were found to have a high rate of intestinal parasites, with over half of the 443 dogs tested positive for at least one type. The most common parasites included hookworms, Capillaria aerophila, and Trichuris vulpis. These parasites can cause health issues, including respiratory problems that may affect the dogs' hunting abilities. It's important for dog owners, especially those with hunting dogs, to be aware of these risks and consider regular parasite screenings and treatments to keep their pets healthy.
People also search for: dog intestinal parasites · hunting dog health issues · Capillaria treatment for dogs
Abstract
Gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematodes are frequently detected in dogs worldwide, posing a potential zoonotic risk. Some parasites, such as Capillaria aerophila and Capillaria boehmi, are often less considered being misdiagnosed with other trichurids. Here, we evaluated the occurrence of Capillaria spp. as well as of other endoparasites in hunting dogs from Basilicata region, Southern Italy. Individual faecal samples were collected from hunting dogs (n = 443) and examined by Mini-FLOTAC® flotation method. Additionally, 49 of the above samples were evaluated by the Baermann-Wetzel technique, and 90 sera samples were subjected to the Angio Detect™ test (IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine, USA). Out of 443 faecal samples, 251 (i.e., 56.6 %) scored positive for at least one parasite species, with hookworms being the most prevalent nematodes (i.e., 39.3 %), followed by C. aerophila (i.e., 20.5 %), Trichuris vulpis (i.e., 12.6 %) and Toxocara canis (i.e., 11.3 %). At the Baermann-Wetzel technique, 8.2 % (n = 4/49) of the faecal samples scored positive for Angiostrongylus vasorum, 4.1 % for Ancylostomatidae (n = 2/49) and 2.0 % for Strongyloides spp. (n = 1/49). A single serum sample scored positive for A. vasorum at the Angio Detect™ test. The results indicate that hunting dogs may harbour a high diversity of endoparasites, including those of zoonotic concern. Moreover, it is hypothesized that the occurrence of C. aerophila and C. boehmi may compromise the overall hunting performance due to the respiratory distress and impairment of scenting abilities. Therefore, control measures should be implemented to protect both dogs as well as humans living in close contact with them.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40280669/