Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cryptosporidium parasite found in 4.6% of dogs at UK rehoming center
By Rosanowski, S M et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2018·Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: The molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium species in relinquished dogs in Great Britain: a novel zoonotic risk?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs newly admitted to a rehoming charity in London was tested for a parasite called Cryptosporidium, which can cause gastrointestinal issues. Out of 677 dogs, 31 tested positive, with the most common type being Cryptosporidium canis. This parasite can be a concern for both dogs and humans, as it can be transmitted between species. While the study did not find any specific patterns linking the dogs' age or breed to infection, it highlighted the importance of monitoring for this parasite in rehomed dogs. More research is needed to understand the risks and effects of Cryptosporidium infections in pets.
People also search for: dog diarrhea causes · Cryptosporidium in dogs · zoonotic parasites in pets · dog rehoming health risks
Abstract
Surveillance was conducted to investigate the occurrence of protozoan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium in dogs newly admitted to a dog rehoming charity in London, Great Britain. Voided faecal samples were collected from all new admissions between 2011 and 2012 during six separate 4-week sampling periods. Information on host signalment, including age, breed and reason for submission and faecal consistency, was collected. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, confirmed by sequencing, was conducted on the faecal samples to detect Cryptosporidium genomic DNA and determine Cryptosporidium identity. In total, 677 dogs were included in the study. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium-positive faecal samples was 4.6% (31/676). There were positive samples in all of the six sampling periods. Cryptosporidium canis (n = 28), C. parvum (n = 2) and C. andersoni (n = 1) were identified. Sixty KDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene amplicon sequencing of the C. parvum samples identified genotypes IIaA17G1R1 and IIaA15G2R1 for the first time from a dog. There were no significant associations between signalment data and Cryptosporidium status. While this was a study of one rehoming shelter, the presence of the potentially zoonotic C. parvum and C. canis in dogs highlights a public health concern. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology and potential impacts of Cryptosporidium infection in dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29637275/