Prevalence and determining factors of gastrointestinal parasite infection in pet dogs in an urban area

Abstract

The aim of present study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection and related factors that govern prevalence in pet dogs. Of 200 fecal samples screened, a prevalence of 39% was observed, in which Toxocara canis (37%) and coccidian (29%) were predominant. Factors that could be associated with an increase in the probability of parasite detection in fecal samples included time since the last deworming, sex, and breed. Pet dogs with > 6 months since the last deworming had a 1.5 times higher probability (P<0.05) of gastrointestinal parasite infection, whereas purebred and males tended to have (P<0.10) 0.9 and 0.8 times higher probability of gastrointestinal parasite infection than crossbreed and female dogs, respectively. In conclusion, results suggested that animals with > 6 months since last deworming, purebred, and male dogs exhibited a comparatively higher prevalence and probability of gastrointestinal parasite infection. Copyright Loyola-Suárez et al.