Comparison of two techniques for diagnosis of giardiasis in dogs

Comparative performance evaluation of four different methods for diagnosing Giardia infection in dogs and zoonotic assemblages' identification

Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis or G. lamblia) is a parasitic protozoan that infects the upper intestinal tract of a broad range of hosts, including humans and domestic animals. Thus, it has raised concerns about the public health risk due to companion animals. Recently, with the improvement of living standards and increasing contacts between pets and humans, the zoonotic transmission of Giardia has dramatically increased. From a genetic point of view, G. duodenalis should be viewed as a complex species that includes eight different species-specific genetic assemblages. The laboratory diagnosis is mainly based on the finding of microscopic cysts in stool samples by coprological examination. Other methods include the detection of antigens, immunoassays or PCR protocols, which allow the identification of Giardia assemblages. The study aimed to compare the performance of Direct Fluorescence Antibody test (DFA), zinc sulfate flotation technique (ZnSO4), rapid diagnostic test (RDT), end-point PCR amplification (PCR) for the detection of Giardia and to identify the concerning assemblages in a canine population from Central Italy. Direct fluorescence antibody test is the reference standard for laboratory diagnosis of Giardia in fecal samples from dogs, despite the microscopic examination after flotation remains the most useful method in many veterinary diagnostic centers. The present findings demonstrate the high performance of DFA and ZnSO4 in detecting Giardia, while RDT may be useful as alternative or complementary method to the DFA and ZnSO4. PCR performance was low, but it allowed determining Giardia B zoonotic assemblage in 25% of the PCR-positive specimens (15 out of 60), while the remaining PCR-positive isolates belonged to the dog-specific assemblage C. The 26% prevalence of G. duodenalis detected by DFA in owned dogs and the identification of potentially zoonotic assemblages underline the potential risk for public health and indicate frequent cross-species transmission of the parasite between humans and dogs.

[Feline and canine giardiosis: An Update]

Giardia duodenalis is a facultative pathogenic intestinal parasite. Giardiosis in dogs and cats may appear with or without clinical signs. Typical signs include diarrhea with or without vomiting. The prevalence in young animals is high and may amount to up to 50%. There are 8 different genotypes (A - H), which are called assemblages. Assemblages C and D are most common in dogs and assemblage F most frequent in cats. However, animals may also be infected with the zoonotically effective assemblages A and B or exhibit mixed infections. The immunofluorescence test (IFA), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fecal centrifugation using zinc sulphate solution are currently recommended as diagnostic methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be used to determine the corresponding assemblage. Approved treatments for giardiosis include fenbendazole and metronidazole. In addition, undertaking specific hygiene measures is warranted. Only animals showing clinical signs or those living in the same household with high-risk patients (e. g. immunosuppressed humans) are recommended to receive medication. The aim of treatment is clinical improvement of the diseased dogs and cats. Frequently, complete elimination of Giardia is not attained.

Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in Cats from Queretaro and the Risk to Public Health

Giardia is a protozoan that affects humans as well as a wide range of domestic species. It is distributed worldwide, and the highest frequency is seen in developing countries. Due to the potential for domestic cats to be carriers of this parasite and subsequently transmit the infection to humans, it is important to know the risk of transmission. For this reason, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency of this parasite in the cat population of the city of Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico, and identify the assemblages present to determine the role this host plays in public health, this being the first study of its type to be performed in the country. This was a cross-sectional study during which 200 fecal samples were collected from cats of both sexes and varying ages and strata of origin. The samples were analyzed by microscopy following the flotation technique, having obtained a general frequency of 25%. Giardia cysts were found at higher frequency in pasty stools. The assemblages found were zoonotic, specifically assemblage A, which suggests that the cat poses an important risk for the dissemination of the parasite to humans, making it an important public health problem.

Lack of efficacy of fenbendazole against Giardia duodenalis in a naturally infected population of dogs in France

Giardiosis is a worldwide intestinal parasitosis, affecting both humans and animals. Treatment in dogs remains limited and the lack of efficacy of the few approved medications is a rising concern. In this study, 23 dogs raised by veterinary students and naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis were treated in home conditions with fenbendazole (50 mg/kg orally for 5 consecutive days). Fecal samples were collected immediately before treatment (FS1), 2-4 days after treatment (FS2) and 8-10 days after treatment (FS3). Giardia duodenalis cyst excretion was measured quantitatively by direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) at FS1, FS2 and FS3. Molecular typing with a nested PCR targeting the SSU _rDNA locus was also performed at FS1 and FS2. Fecal consistency improved in 16/21 dogs (76%) and mean cyst shedding was reduced by 84% after treatment. However, only 8/23 dogs (35%) achieved therapeutic success (≥90% reduction of cysts) and only 4/23 dogs (17%) had complete elimination of G. duodenalis. Molecular typing showed that dogs harbored only canine-specific assemblages, with a high prevalence of assemblage C in analyzed samples (30/39). We also detected different assemblages after treatment and nucleotide substitutions in assemblage C sequences that have not been described previously. Eight to ten days after treatment, high Giardia cyst excretion was measured, suggesting possible reinfection despite hygiene measures and/or multiplication. These data suggest that fenbendazole treatment may improve fecal consistency but has limited therapeutic efficacy against giardiosis in this population of dogs. Further research is still needed to assess the efficacy of fenbendazole against canine giardiosis.

Rapid on-site diagnosis of canine giardiosis: time versus performance

BACKGROUND

Infections by protozoans of the genus Giardia are a common cause of diarrhea in dogs. Canine giardiosis constitutes a disease with a zoonotic potential; however, it is often underestimated due to its challenging diagnosis. The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of an immunochromatographic strip test (SpeedTM Giardia, Virbac, France) comparing it with microscopy (zinc sulfate flotation) by utilizing the combination of an enzyme immunoassay (ProSpecTTM Giardia EZ Microplate Assay, Oxoid Ltd., UK) and the PCR as the gold standard. A positive result in both ELISA and PCR was set as the gold standard.

METHODS

Initially, fecal samples from dogs with clinical signs compatible with giardiosis were tested with the SpeedTM Giardia test and separated into two groups of 50 samples each: group A (positive) and group B (negative). Thereafter, all samples were examined by zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation technique and assayed by the ProSpecTTM Giardia Microplate Assay and PCR. The performance of the SpeedTM Giardia and zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation tests were calculated estimating sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratio; the chi-square and McNemar tests were used for the comparison of the two methods.

RESULTS

Giardia cysts were not detected by microscopy in 16 out of the 50 samples (32%) of group A and in none of group B samples. Eight out of 50 samples in group B (16%) were tested positive both with the ProSpecTTM Giardia Microplate Assay and PCR. Fecal examination with the SpeedTM Giardia test was more sensitive (86.2%) than the parasitological method (58.6%, P < 0.001) while the specificity of both methods was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

The SpeedTM Giardia test is an easy-to-perform diagnostic method for the detection of Giardia spp., which can increase laboratory efficiency by reducing time and cost and decrease underdiagnosis of Giardia spp. infections. This immunochromatographic strip test may be routinely exploited when a rapid and reliable diagnosis is required, other diagnostic techniques are unavailable and microscopy expertise is inefficient. In negative dogs with compatible clinical signs of giardiosis, it is recommended either to repeat the exam or proceed with further ELISA and PCR testing.

Evaluation of the VETSCAN IMAGYST: an in-clinic canine and feline fecal parasite detection system integrated with a deep learning algorithm

Background

Fecal examination is an important component of routine companion animal wellness exams. Sensitivity and specificity of fecal examinations, however, are influenced by sample preparation methodologies and the level of training and experience of personnel who read fecal slides. The VETSCAN IMAGYST system consists of three components: a sample preparation device, a commercially available scanner, and an analysis software. The VETSCAN IMAGYST automated scanner and cloud-based, deep learning algorithm, locates, classifies, and identifies parasite eggs found on fecal microscopic slides. The main study objectives were (i) to qualitatively evaluate the capabilities of the VETSCAN IMAGYST screening system and (ii) to assess and compare the performance of the VETSCAN IMAGYST fecal preparation methods to conventional fecal flotation techniques.

Methods

To assess the capabilities of VETSCAN IMAGYST screening components, fecal slides were prepared by the VETSCAN IMAGYST centrifugal and passive flotation techniques with 100 pre-screened fecal samples collected from dogs and cats and examined by both the algorithm and parasitologists. To determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the VETSCAN IMAGYST sample preparation techniques, fecal flotation slides were prepared by four different techniques (VETSCAN IMAGYST centrifugal and passive flotations, conventional centrifugal flotation, and passive flotation using OVASSAY® Plus) and examined by parasitologists. Additionally, required sample preparation and scanning times were estimated on a subset of samples to evaluate VETSCAN IMAGYST ease-of-use.

Results

The algorithm performance of the VETSCAN IMAGYST closely matched that of the parasitologists, with Pearsonʼs correlation coefficient (r) ranging from 0.83–0.99 across four taxa of parasites, Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Trichuris and Taeniidae. Both VETSCAN IMAGYST centrifugal and passive flotation methods correlated well with conventional preparation methods on all targeted parasites (diagnostic sensitivity of 75.8–100%, specificity of 91.8–100%, qualitative agreement between methods of 93.8–94.5%). Sample preparation, slide scan and image analysis were completed within 10–14 min by VETSCAN IMAGYST centrifugal and passive flotations, respectively.

Conclusions

The VETSCAN IMAGYST scanning system with the VETSCAN IMAGYST sample preparation methods demonstrated a qualitative match in comparison to the results of parasitologists’ examinations with conventional fecal flotation techniques. The VETSCAN IMAGYST is an easy-to-use, next generation qualitative and possibly quantitative diagnostic platform that brings expert clinical results into the hands of veterinary clinics.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

There are few epidemiologic studies on the role of dogs in zoonotic parasitic transmission in the Circumpolar North. The objectives of this study were to: (a) estimate the faecal prevalence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs; (b) investigate potential associations between the type of dog population and the faecal presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.; and (c) describe the molecular characteristics of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Iqaluit, Nunavut. We conducted two cross-sectional studies in July and September 2016. In July, the team collected daily faecal samples for 3 days from each of 20 sled dogs. In September, the team collected three faecal samples from each of 59 sled dogs, 111 samples from shelter dogs and 104 from community dogs. We analysed faecal samples for the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. using rapid immunoassay and flotation techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of target genes were performed on positive faecal samples. Overall, the faecal prevalence of at least one of the target parasites, when one faecal sample was chosen at random for all dogs, was 8.16% (CI: 5.52-11.92), and for Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., prevalence was 4.42% (CI: 2.58-7.49) and 6.12% (CI: 3.88-9.53), respectively. The odds of faecal Giardia spp. in sled dogs were significantly higher than those in shelter and community dogs (OR 10.19 [CI: 1.16-89.35]). Sequence analysis revealed that 6 faecal samples were Giardia intestinalis, zoonotic assemblage B (n = 2) and species-specific assemblages D (n = 3) and E (n = 1), and five faecal samples were Cryptosporidium canis. Giardia intestinalis is zoonotic; however, Cryptosporidium canis is rare in humans and, when present, usually occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. Dogs may be a potential source of zoonotic Giardia intestinalis assemblage B infections in residents in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada; however, the direction of transmission is unclear.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of immunoassays and FLOTAC for diagnosing Giardia spp. infection in dogs

BACKGROUND

Giardia spp. is a protozoan pathogen and is the most common enteric parasite of domestic animals and humans. Assays for detecting infection in fecal samples using direct or indirect examinations are important tools for diagnosing the disease. The objective of the present study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of immunoassays and FLOTAC technique for diagnosing Giardia spp. infection in dogs.

RESULTS

Fecal samples from 80 positive stray dogs were tested for the presence of copro-antigens of Giardia spp. using the direct immunofluorescence assay (IFA), a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the FLOTAC double technique. All methods were performed in accordance with the instructions reported in the original description for each technique. The results showed that ELISA can be run in less time than IFA and almost at the same time of the FLOTAC technique. Among the tests used in this study, FLOTAC had the lowest cost per correct diagnosis, compared with immunoassays.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this cost-effectiveness analysis, in combination with the sensitivity and specificity of the FLOTAC technique, suggest that the FLOTAC technique can be use in the routine diagnosis of Giardia spp. infection in dogs.

Comparative performance of reference laboratory tests and in-clinic tests for Giardia in canine feces

BACKGROUND

We examined the performance of four in-clinic Giardia diagnostic tests by comparing results to three laboratory methods for detection of Giardia. A set of 177 fecal samples originally submitted to a commercial laboratory by veterinarians for routine ova and parasite (O&P) testing was used. Specimens were examined by direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) for presence of Giardia cysts which served as the gold standard. Fecal samples were tested using a Giardia-specific cyst wall antigen microtiter plate format enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and each of the in-clinic assays adhering to the package insert for each kit.

RESULTS

Evaluated were four in-clinic antigen test kits: VetScan® Canine Giardia Rapid Test (Abaxis), Anigen® Rapid CPV-CCV-Giardia Antigen Test (BioNote), SNAP® Giardia Test (IDEXX) and Witness® Giardia Test (Zoetis). In the comparison of the in-clinic tests to the DFA standard test sensitivity ranged between 70.0-87.1%, and specificity ranged between 71.1-93.4%.

CONCLUSION

Of the tests evaluated here, the SNAP test had the highest sensitivity and specificity. The SNAP test had the highest percent positive and percent negative agreement when compared to the microtiter plate format ELISA and the O&P assay.

Assessment of the diagnostic performance of four methods for the detection of Giardia duodenalis in fecal samples from human, canine and feline carriers

Enteric parasitic diseases including giardiasis are of public health concern. Different methods are available for the diagnosis of this parasitic infection in fecal samples such as the identification of protozoan cysts and trophozoites by light microscopy, detection of specific antigens by ELISA, and amplification of DNA fragments by PCR. The present study aimed at assessing the performance of four laboratory tests for the detection of Giardia duodenalis in fecal specimens from three different host species with a previous diagnosis of giardiasis; canine, feline and human patients provided new stool samples to be retested for Giardia before initiating treatment with antiprotozoal drugs. For this purpose, triplicate fecal specimens from 54 humans, 24 dogs and 18 cats living in the city of Niterói, RJ, southeast Brazil, were analysed by light microscopy, ELISA, immunochromatography, and nested PCR. The centrifugal-flotation method detected Giardia cysts in 89.6% (86/96) of the fecal samples. The protozoan parasite was detected via immunochromatography in 87.5% (84/96) of these samples. Giardia was detected by ELISA in 69.8% (67/96) of the stool specimens from carriers with a previous diagnosis of Giardia infection. Giardia was detected by PCR in only 39.6% (38/96) of the fecal specimens. Based on these findings, we suggest that, among the four assays that were used in this study, the zinc sulphate flotation technique (Faust et al., 1939) is the best diagnostic assay in terms of sensitivity and specificity to detect G. duodenalis on serially collected samples from dogs, cats and humans.

The influence of serial fecal sampling on the diagnosis of giardiasis in humans, dogs, and cats

Giardia infection is a common clinical problem in humans and pets. The diagnosis of giardiasis is challenging as hosts intermittently excrete protozoan cysts in their feces. In the present study, we comparatively evaluated two methods of serial fecal sampling in humans, dogs, and cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Faust et al. technique was used to examine fecal specimens collected in triplicate from 133 patients (52 humans, 60 dogs, and 21 cats). Specimens from 74 patients were received from the group assigned to carry out sampling on consecutive days - 34 humans, 35 dogs, and 5 cats, and specimens from 59 patients were received from the group assigned to carry out sampling on non-consecutive, separate days - 18 human beings, 25 dogs, and 16 cats. G. duodenalis cysts were found in stools of 30 individuals. Multiple stool sampling resulted in an increase in the number of samples that were positive for Giardia in both groups. The authors therefore conclude that multiple stool sampling increases the sensitivity of the Faust et al . technique to detect G. duodenalis cysts in samples from humans, cats and dogs.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis from dogs in La Habana, Cuba

Giardia duodenalis is a worldwide protozoan parasite that infects humans and other mammals including dogs. Due to the risk of zoonotic transmission between dogs and humans, we aimed in this study to determine the prevalence of the intestinal parasites and the distribution of assemblages of G. duodenalis among dogs analysed. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in La Habana from June 2014 to March 2015 in the Zoonosis Unit of La Lisa municipality. A total of 98 dogs were analysed by three different techniques (microscopy with faecal concentration, Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, and Polymerase Chain Reaction) in order to detect Giardia in stool samples. Out of 98 dogs studied, 43 (43.9%) were infected with intestinal parasites. The zoonotic parasites Ancylostoma caninum (21.4%), Trichuris vulpis (16.3%) and the protozoan Giardia duodenalis (11.2%) were the most prevalent parasites. In regards to the G. duodenalis, seven dogs were positive by microscopy after faecal concentration, nine by NOVITEC® Giardia Microplate Assay, and ten and eleven samples were amplified by the β-giardin and SSU-RNA PCRs, respectively. After PCR sequence analysis of both genes only zoonotic assemblages (A and B) were detected. The SSU-RNA sequence results revealed a distribution of 8 assemblage A and 4 assemblage B, whereas only assemblage A were identified by the β-giardin analysis. Among subassemblage classification by β-giardin phylogenetic tree, four isolates showed an AI pattern and one isolate displayed an AII distribution. Mixed infections were detected in three isolates. These findings highlight the risk of zoonotic transmission of Giardia duodenalis between dogs and humans.

Diagnostic accuracy of two point-of-care kits for the diagnosis of Giardia species infection in dogs

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to compare results obtained by ZnSO₄ Flotation and SNAP ^®Giardia to those generated by the new point‐of‐care tests Single and Triple Rapid.

METHODS

Prospective study evaluating 51 canine faecal samples submitted at a reference laboratory for the presence of Giardia spp. Kappa statistics, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated by comparing the new tests to the combined results of ZnSO₄ and SNAP tests.

RESULTS

There was fair (Single Rapid, j=0·434) to good (Triple Rapid, j =0·797) agreement with the reference tests. At this study's prevalence (59 to 61%), specificities and PPV were high (1·00) with both Rapid tests, but sensitivities and NPV were lower for the Single than for the Triple (0·48 vs 0·83 and 0·55 vs 0·80) tests. At lower prevalence rates, both tests exhibited a high PPV (1·00), but the NPV were higher with the Triple (0·96 to 0·99) than the Single (0·88 to 0·96) Rapid test.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Both tests exhibited excellent PPV values at all prevalence rates but an excellent NPV only at low prevalence. As the prevalence is likely to be low (<15%) in clinical settings, we propose that these tests may be helpful in the in‐house diagnosis of Giardia spp infection. However, they exhibit lower sensitivity than the combined sensitivity of ZnSO₄ and SNAP tests, particularly in high prevalence settings.

Influence of Breed Size, Age, Fecal Quality, and Enteropathogen Shedding on Fecal Calprotectin and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Puppies During the Weaning Period

Background

Fecal calprotectin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) are markers of intestinal inflammation and immunity in adult dogs.

Hypothesis

Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations in puppies are not influenced by fecal moisture in puppies but by enteropathogen shedding.

Animals

Three hundred and twenty‐four puppies.

Methods

Fecal consistency was assessed by gross examination. Fecal moisture was evaluated before and after lyophilization. Canine parvovirus and coronavirus were detected in feces by qPCR and qRT‐PCR respectively. Giardia intestinalis antigen was quantified by ELISA. The standard McMaster flotation technique was used to detect eggs and oocysts in feces. Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations were quantified by in‐house radioimmunoassays.

Results

For each marker (IgA and calprotectin), a strong positive correlation was observed between concentration in fresh feces and concentration in fecal dry matter. 75.6% of the puppies were found to be infected by at ≥1 of the enteropathogens evaluated. Fecal calprotectin concentration was significantly influenced by age (P = .001), with higher concentrations in younger puppies, but not by viral (P = .863) or parasitic infection (P = .791). Fecal IgA concentration was significantly influenced by enteropathogen shedding (P = .01), with a lower fecal IgA concentration in puppies shedding at ≥1 enteropathogen compared to puppies without any enteropathogen shedding, but not by age.

Conclusions

Fecal calprotectin and IgA are of no diagnostic value to detect presence of enteropathogens in clinically healthy puppies or puppies with abnormal feces, but could help to better understand the maturation of digestive tract.

Risk factors of weaning diarrhea in puppies housed in breeding kennels

Diarrhea represents one of the most frequent disorders in dogs. In puppies, degradation of feces quality is associated with a reduced daily weight gain and an increased risk of death. Prevention of diarrhea in puppies requires a global approach encompassing enteropathogens, environment and management practices especially when housed in groups. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of enteropathogens in puppies in breeding kennels and to identify risk factors of diarrhea. Two hundred and sixty six puppies (between 5 and 14 weeks of age) from 29 French breeding kennels were included. For each kennel, data about environment, management of the kennel and puppies’ characteristics (age, sex and breed) were collected. For each puppy, fecal consistency and fecal excretion of enteropathogens (viruses and parasites) was evaluated. At least one enteropathogen was identified in 77.1% of puppies and 24.8% of puppies presented abnormal feces. The main risk factor of weaning diarrhea was fecal excretion of canine parvovirus type 2 (odds ratio = 5; confidence interval 95%: 1.7–14.7). A targeted sanitary and medical prophylaxis against canine parvovirus type 2 should be implemented to decrease risk of weaning diarrhea.

Prevalence, risk factors of infection and molecular characterization of trichomonads in puppies from French breeding kennels

The trichomonad species Tritrichomonas fetus and Pentatrichomonas hominis were recently identified in the feces of dogs with diarrhea. However the prevalence and pathogenicity of these parasites in the canine population still remained poorly resolved. Therefore the aim of the present study was (1) to determine the prevalence of trichomonads infecting puppies living in French breeding kennels, (2) to confirm the predominance of P. hominis in dogs, (3) to investigate the genetic diversity of P. hominis isolates identified in the French canine population and (4) to evaluate the risk factors for infection by P. hominis and the influence of the parasite on feces consistency. A total of 215 both diarrheic and non-diarrheic puppies from 25 French breeding kennels were included in this epidemiological survey. Fecal samples from each puppy were examined for 6 gastrointestinal pathogens: parvovirus type 2 (CPV2), coronavirus, Toxocara canis, Cystoisospora ohioensis-complex, Cystoisospora canis, and Giardia intestinalis. A part of each collected stool was also tested for the presence of motile trichomonads by microscopy after culturing. The prevalence of trichomonad infection was 15.8% (34/215) among puppies and 20% (5/25) among breeding kennels. DNA from 26 of the 34 positive samples was successfully amplified using a trichomonad-specific primer pair. Analysis of the sequences of PCR products indicated that P. hominis was the only trichomonad infecting the canine population. All the puppies infected with P. hominis belonged to large breed dogs. Moreover, puppies from large breeding kennels, excreting a high level of G. intestinalis and/or excreting a high level of C. canis oocysts showed a higher probability of being positive for P. hominis infection. Univariate analysis also revealed an increased risk for P. hominis infection in puppies with abnormal feces. However, in a multivariate analysis, CPV2 was the only gastrointestinal pathogen associated with abnormal feces. Since enteropathogens were commonly found in dogs infected by P. hominis, the pathogenic potential of this trichomonad species remained uncertain and has to be further evaluated by experimental infection studies.

Laboratory tests for the diagnosis and management of chronic canine and feline enteropathies

Chronic enteropathies are commonly encountered in both cats and dogs. Although definitive diagnosis often requires collection of gastrointestinal biopsies for histopathologic evaluation, less invasive laboratory tests can be highly informative and should be performed prior to biopsy collection. Tests for determination of infectious causes comprise those for helminthic, protozoal, bacterial, or fungal organisms. Intestinal function and disease may be assessed by measuring serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, and C-reactive protein, and fecal concentrations of α(1)-proteinase inhibitor. Ongoing research has led to development of tests for serum perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies, and fecal inflammatory markers, including S100-proteins and N-methylhistamine.

Epidemiological Study of Non-systemic Parasitism in Dogs in Southeast Mediterranean Spain Assessed by Coprological and Post-mortem Examination

The prevalence and risk factors of non-systemic canine ecto- and endoparasitism and anthelminthic use in Murcia located at the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastal arch, was investigated by coprology and necropsy in up to 275 pet, city shelter and stray dogs in 2001-2004. Faecal parasite stages were detected in 25% of dogs. Species frequency was 6-10% for Toxocara canis, Ancylostomatidae spp., Toxascaris leonina and Isospora canis, and 0.4-1% for Trichuris vulpis, Giardia lamblia, and Dipylidium caninum. Logistic regression indicated that the risk of intestinal parasitism was highest for dogs <or=1 year old, in the middle to low weight range and kept at the city shelter. Although risk factors varied according to the species, T. canis was most common in <1 year old and Ancylostomatidae spp. was more prevalent in older dogs. This suggests that the dominant species was Uncinaria spp. and not the more zoonotically important Ancylostoma spp. This was further supported by necropsy findings; however, the degree of agreement between post-mortem and coprological examination for intestinal parasites was generally poor. Necropsy revealed 10%G. lamblia, 12%Taenia spp. 38%D. caninum infections. Fleas, ticks and lice were also found in 38%, 6% and 2% of necropsied stray dogs. These results demonstrate the need for an urgent parasite control programme at the city dog shelter and the need to improve the owner's education on zoonotic risks, the proper use of anthelminthics, and other parasite control practices.

Survey on giardiosis in shelter dog populations

Faecal samples from 183 dogs living in three different shelters in the Rome metropolitan area were randomly collected and examined for the prevalence of giardiosis. Giardia infections were detected by a commercially available ELISA test (ProspecT Giardia Microplate Assay). Overall prevalence was 55.2%. Prevalence rates in single shelters were 74.3, 35.5, and 20.9%, respectively. Using multivariate analysis, no association was found between Giardia-positivity and shelter or sex, breed, or diarrhoea. Giardia-positive dogs were more likely to be younger than 5-year-old (odds ratio [OR] = 2.87; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.07-7.77; p = 0.038), living together (OR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.12-5.93; p = 0.026), and fed commercial wet food, both alone and combined with dry food (OR = 5.67; 95% CI: 1.59-20.24; p = 0.008). Correlation between Giardia infection and type of food has not been previously reported in dogs. Possible use of the ELISA test for detection of Giardia infection in dogs and zoonotic implications are discussed.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs under veterinary care in Maracaibo, Venezuela

The prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs presented to the Veterinary Policlinic of the University of Zulia (PVU) was measured between January and December 2001. A total of 614 fecal samples were evaluated by the fecal flotation method. One or more species of parasites was identified in 218 (35.5%) dogs. The parasites most frequently detected were: Ancylostoma spp. (24.5%), Toxocara canis (11.4%) and Isospora spp. (8.1%). Single parasitic infections were present in 149 (24.3%) dogs. The age distribution of intestinal parasites in dogs less than 1 year old had a higher overall prevalence than those dogs over 12 months of age. There was no significant difference in the prevalence between male (38.9%) and female (31.7%) dogs. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) greater prevalence of parasites in mixed-breed dogs (40.3%) as compared with pure-breed dogs (30.8%). A significant difference (P < 0.05) was detected between the general prevalence of January and December compared to August.