Survey of German pet owners quantifying endoparasitic infection risk and implications for deworming recommendations

BACKGROUND

Dogs and cats can transmit zoonotic helminths to humans, e.g. Toxocara spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis. Strategic deworming may help minimize this risk. Studies in several European countries have shown that pets are dewormed less frequently against roundworms and tapeworms than recommended by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP). The objective of this study was to identify percentages of dogs and cats falling into the different risk categories defined by the German ESCCAP guidelines and to evaluate whether deworming frequency and parasite monitoring in Germany follows these guidelines.

RESULTS

According to questionnaire results from 500 dog and 500 cat owners, deworming of dogs in Germany averages 2.07 times/year while for cats this average is 1.72 times/year. In contrast, evaluation of risk factors placed only 2% (10/500) of dogs in ESCCAP category A with a recommended deworming/examination frequency of 1-2 times per year, while 4.8% (24/500) were placed in category B (4 treatments/examinations per year recommended), 30.8% (154/500) in category C (12 treatments/examinations per year against tapeworms and 4 treatments/examinations per year against roundworms recommended) and 62.4% (312/500) in category D (12 treatments/examinations per year recommended). All cats were placed either in risk group A [52.8% (264/500)] or D [47.2% (236/500)]. Generalized linear models indicated that risk group D cats were treated significantly more often against helminths than risk group A cats. There were no significant differences in deworming frequency between risk groups in dogs. The most important factor influencing deworming frequency was the frequency of veterinary visits. Dogs and cats were treated significantly more often if owners visited their veterinarian more than once yearly.

CONCLUSIONS

The percentage distribution of risk groups considerably varied between dogs and cats. Nevertheless, 62% of dogs and 47% of cats were assigned to category D for which monthly treatments/examinations are recommended by the ESCCAP guidelines. Veterinarians play a key role in instructing pet owners with regard to helminthoses and their prevention, and should take the time for adequate risk assessments. The reported low deworming frequencies despite the high potential parasite infection risk suggests that pet owner advice through veterinarians needs to be improved.

Socio-economic burden of parasitic infections in yaks from 1984 to 2017 on Qinghai Tibetan Plateau of China-A review

Yak is an important animal for the Tibetans at Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. The burden of parasitic diseases has been a major threat to the health of yaks at this region presenting a considerable socio-economic losses and impact to yak production and local nomads. Keeping in view, we collected the published papers from 1984 to 2017 on major parasitic infections in yaks by electronic literature search from five databases including CNKI, Google, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. The prevalence of Eimeria, Babesia, Theileria, Hypodermosis, Cystic echinococcosis, Alveolar echinococcosis, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Toxocara vitulorum, and Fascioliasis infection in yaks was found to be 48.02%, 13.06%, 36.11%, 59.85%, 16.93%, 0.99%, 20.50%, 5.14%, 10.00%, 3.68%, 4.07%, 22.23% and 28.7% respectively. Data presented are contemplated to enhance our current understanding on the major parasitic diseases of yaks at Qinghai Tibetan plateau, China. The main aim of this effort is to ameliorate the effects of the parasitic burden in this specie; so that, the attempts are made to minimize the incidence of these infections in future to raise the socio-economic levels of local community.

Toxocara catiinfections in stray cats in northern Iran

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to study the prevalence and intensity of infection withToxocara catiin 100 stray cats, from April to October 2004 in urban areas of Sari, northern Iran. A total of 44 cats (44%) were found to be infected withT. cati. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of infection relative to host age and weight (P = 0.000). There was also a significant difference in the intensity of infection relative to body weight and urban sites (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender, urban sites and season (P>0.05), nor in the intensity of infection between host gender, age and season (P>0.05). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 32 worms per cat, with a mean of 7.30 ± 6.82.

Prevalence of helminth ova in soil samples from public places in Shiraz

To determine the prevalence of helminth eggs in public places and children's playgrounds, 112 soil samples were collected in 26 sites in Shiraz, southern Islamic Republic of Iran, during September 2002-September 2003. Toxocara cati ova were found in 7 (6.3%) samples, 2 had Ascaris lumbricoides ova, 3 had larvae morphologically similar to Strongyloides stercoralis. Coccidia oocysts were also observed in 4 samples. No contamination was observed during the dry season.

A novel method for the recovery of Toxocara canis in mice

Acid-isolating and acid digestion techniques were used to recover the larvae of T. canis from the tissues of mice and the acid-isolating technique in particular proved to be an effective method.

The prevalence of Toxocara canis ova in soil samples from parks and gardens in the London area

Toxocara canis is an ascarid parasite of the dog. Human infection is acquired when ova of T. canis are ingested. Parks and play areas contaminated with dog faeces are recognised as potential sources of infection. Five hundred and twenty one soil samples were examined from fifteen parks and gardens in the greater London area to establish the prevalence of soil contamination in those facilities. Samples were examined using a magnesium sulphate floatation method. T. canis ova were found in 6.3% of the samples. Positive samples were commonly found in lawns, playing fields and children's play areas. The authors believe that this may constitute a significant health risk, particularly to children.

[Toxocara canis as a cause of visceral larva migrans. Survival and development of eggs in the environment and potential ways of transmission to man: a review]

A review is given on the occurrence of Toxocariasis, the prevalence of T. canis among dogs and investigations on the prevalence of infective ova in soil- and sandsamples. The resistance of ascarid eggs and larvae against different environmental influences, including various sewage treatment-effects is discussed. The eggs are destroyed in 7 minutes when kept at 55 degrees C in a high humidity, slower when the humidity is lowered. When the temperature is -32 degrees C T. canis eggs are inactivated after 8 hours. Complete embryonation is reached in 4 days when the temperature is 30 degrees C. Potential ways of transmission to man are outlined (pica, vegetables, bathing etc.) and recommendations in order to prevent the disease are given such as deworming of dogs, methods to decimate occurrence of eggs in wastewater and sludge etc.

Toxocariasis

Human infection with the larvae of the dog roundworm, Toxocara canis, occurs in Australia, especially in children, and though usually not serious, it can cause considerable damage if the larvae get into such organs as the eye.