Prevalence, risk factors, and zoonotic implications of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and cats in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in companion animals pose significant veterinary and public health challenges, especially in densely populated urban areas anddeveloping regions such as Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thus, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of GI parasitic infections in pet dogsand cats, identify the parasite species, and analyze the associated risk factors. Across-sectional survey was conducted from January to June 2024, involving 120 dogs and 197 cats in Dhaka City. Fresh fecal samples were collected from the dogs and cats and analyzed for parasitic eggs, cysts, and oocysts using microscopic methods, including direct smear, fecal flotation, and sedimentation techniques. The results revealed an overall parasitic prevalence of 63.33 % in dogs and 58.37 % in cats, with a total of 15 parasitic species identified in both pets. The presence of both shared and host-specific parasites highlights the risks of environmental contamination, with Toxocara spp. being the most commonly identified parasite in dogs and cats. Among the parasites, Alaria spp., Ancylostoma spp., Ascaris spp., Balantidium coli, Capillaria spp., Entamoeba coli, Schistosoma spp., Spirometra spp., Strongyloides spp., Taenia spp., Toxocara canis/cati, Trichuris spp. can infect humans and have zoonotic transmission potential. The key risk factors identified for dogs include the absence of deworming, male sex, age under one year,and hunting behavior. For cats, the primary significant factors were the absence of deworming and being crossbred. The findings highlight the importance of regular deworming, proper pet management, and strengthened public health measures to mitigate veterinary and public health risks. This study can aid veterinarians and public health authorities in formulating strategies to control gastrointestinal parasitic infections while encouraging pet owners to adopt responsible pet care practices.