1
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, 3200 Sicotte,
C.P. 5000, St-Hyacinthe J2S 7C6, QC, Canada
2 Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon S7N 5B4, SK, Canada
3 University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary T2N 1 N4, AB, Canada
4 Atlantic Veterinary College, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown C1A 4P3, PEI, Canada
5 Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc, 2000 Argentia Road, Suite 400, Plaza 3, Mississauga L5N 1 V9, ON, Canada
6 Novartis Animal Health Inc, Clinical Development, Basel, CH-4002, Switzerland
2 Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon S7N 5B4, SK, Canada
3 University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary T2N 1 N4, AB, Canada
4 Atlantic Veterinary College, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown C1A 4P3, PEI, Canada
5 Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc, 2000 Argentia Road, Suite 400, Plaza 3, Mississauga L5N 1 V9, ON, Canada
6 Novartis Animal Health Inc, Clinical Development, Basel, CH-4002, Switzerland
Parasites & Vectors 2015, 8:281
doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0870-x
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/8/1/281
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/8/1/281
| Received: | 9 December 2014 |
| Accepted: | 21 April 2015 |
| Published: | 21 May 2015 |
© 2015 Villeneuve et al.
Abstract
Background
In Canada, surveys of enteric parasites in dogs and cats have been reported sporadically
over the past 40 years, mostly focusing on a specific region. The present work was
performed to determine the current prevalence of various parasites in fecal samples
from shelter dogs and cats across the Canadian provinces.
Methods
A total of 1086 dog and 636 cat fecal samples from 26 shelters were analysed using
a sugar solution double centrifugal flotation technique. Prevalences (national, regional,
provincial, age and parasite-specific), were calculated and compared using the Fisher-Exact
test. A multiplex PCR was performed to distinguish Taenia spp, Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis on samples positive for taeniid eggs.
Results
Overall, 33.9% of dogs and 31.8% of cats were positive for at least one parasite.
Toxocara canis and T. cati were the most prevalent parasite present in fecal samples followed by Cystoisospora spp. Prevalence in dogs was similar across the Atlantic, East, West and Pacific regions,
while prevalence in cats varied regionally. Eggs of E. granulosus/E. canadensis were detected in samples from dogs from BC, AB, and ON.
Conclusions
Data from this study will help in the development of strategies, based on the level
of risk per geographic location for the prevention and response to these parasites
in pets and free-roaming and shelter animals in Canada.