Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Zoonotic parasites found in dog and cat poop and fur
By Overgaauw, Paul A M et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2009·RnA BV, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Zoonotic parasites in fecal samples and fur from dogs and cats in The Netherlands.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that some healthy dogs and cats in the Netherlands carry parasites that could potentially be passed to their owners. Fecal and fur samples from 152 dogs and 60 cats were tested, revealing that about 4% of the samples contained Toxocara eggs, and around 15% had Giardia, a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal issues. Many pet owners reported close contact with their pets, such as allowing them to lick their faces or sleep in the bedroom, which increases the risk of transmission. The findings suggest that pet owners should be educated about hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection from these parasites.
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Abstract
Pets may carry zoonotic pathogens for which owners are at risk. The aim of the study is to investigate whether healthy pets harbour zoonotic parasitic infections and to make an inventory of the interactions between pet-owners and their companion animals in The Netherlands. Fecal and hair samples were collected from healthy household dogs and cats in Dutch veterinary practices. Owners were interviewed about interaction with their pets. The samples were investigated by microscopy, ELISA, and PCR. From 159 households, 152 dogs (D) and 60 cats (C), information and samples were collected and examination for several zoonotic parasites was performed. Toxocara eggs were found in 4.4% (D) and 4.6% (C) of the fecal samples and in 12.2% (D) and 3.4% (C) of the fur samples. The median epg in the fur was 17 (D) and 28 (C) and none of these eggs were viable. From 15.2% of the dog and 13.6% of the cat feces Giardia was isolated. One canine and one feline Giardia isolate was a zoonotic assemblage A (12%). Cryptosporidium sp. were present in 8.7% (D) and 4.6% (C) of the feces. Fifty percent of the owners allow the pet to lick their faces. Sixty percent of the pets visit the bedroom; 45-60% (D-C) are allowed on the bed, and 18-30% (D-C) sleep with the owner in bed. Six percent of the pets always sleep in the bedroom. Of the cats, 45% are allowed to jump onto the kitchen sink. Nearly 39% of the dog owners never clean up the feces of their dog. Fifteen percent of the dog owners and 8% of the cat owners always wash their hands after contact with the animals. Close physical contact between owners and their pets is common and poses an increased risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Education of owners by the vet, specifically about hygiene and potential risks, is required.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19398275/