Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites found in pet dogs and cats
By Yoshiuchi, Ryusaku et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2010·Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Survey and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in owned companion animal, dogs and cats, in Japan.
Plain-English summary
A study in Japan found that some pet dogs and cats were infected with parasites called Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which can be harmful to both pets and humans. Out of 77 dogs, 3 had Cryptosporidium, and 2 had Giardia, while 7 out of 55 cats had Cryptosporidium and 1 had Giardia. These infections can lead to gastrointestinal issues in pets, and the researchers noted that the parasites can be shed in feces for several weeks. This study highlights the importance of monitoring these infections in pets to protect both animal and human health.
People also search for: dog diarrhea causes · cat vomiting parasites · Giardia treatment for dogs · Cryptosporidium in pets · zoonotic infections in cats and dogs
Abstract
Compared with other countries, surveys of these parasites have been rarely performed in companion animals of Japan in spite of their significance for public health. Here, we investigated pet dogs and cats in Japan for the first time, and genetically analyzed the isolates to evaluate the risk of zoonotic infections. Seventy-seven fecal samples were collected from privately owned dogs and 55 samples from owned cats in Osaka city, Japan. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in 3/77 dogs (3.9%) and 7/55 cats (12.7%), and Giardia infection in 2/77 dogs (2.6%) and 1/55 cats (1.8%). Amplification of the target regions for genotyping was successful, Cryptosporidium isolates in dogs and cats were identified as C. canis and C. felis, respectively, and those of Giardia in dogs and cats were G. intestinalis Assemblages D and F. The discharge period of the oocysts varied within 3-16 weeks and that of the cysts was 12 weeks. To date, zoonotic types of both parasites have been identified in other animals in Japan, and further large-scale studies are needed to determine the distribution of zoonotic genotypes in these animals, especially those closely associated with humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20934255/