Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:52:27.649Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

One-year parasitological screening of stray dogs and cats in County Dublin, Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2018

A. Garcia-Campos Open the ORCID record for A. Garcia-Campos [Opens in a new window] ,
C. Power ,
J. O'Shaughnessy ,
C. Browne ,
A. Lawlor ,
G. McCarthy ,
E. J. O'Neill  and
T. de Waal
A. Garcia-Campos*
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
C. Power
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
J. O'Shaughnessy
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Backweston Laboratory Campus, Celbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland
C. Browne
Affiliation:
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, Ireland
A. Lawlor
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
G. McCarthy
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
E. J. O'Neill
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
T. de Waal
Affiliation:
UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
*
Author for correspondence: A. Garcia-Campos, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

To date, there are no recent studies identifying the prevalence of parasites of human and veterinary importance in dogs and cats in Ireland. The interaction between pets and wildlife species in the environment is an important source of parasite exposure to canids and felines, and one likely to be heightened in the stray animal population. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of endoparasites in unowned dogs and cats in County Dublin, Ireland. Feces from stray dogs (n = 627) and cats (n = 289) entering a rehoming centre were collected immediately after defecation. The main parasitic agents detected were ascarids (15.52 and 30.26%), Cystoisospora (3.27 and 3.69%), Giardia spp. (6.02 and 1.84%) and lungworms (0.64 and 2.08%), in dogs and cats respectively. Animals younger than 3 months of age were more likely to be infected with ascarids (P < 0.001) and Cystoisospora spp. (P = 0.008 and P = 0.014) than older animals. All lungworms were morphologically identified and dogs were infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum (0.48%) and Crenosoma vulpis (0.16%) whereas cats were only infected with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (2.08%). This represents the first prevalence study of stray animals in Ireland. Data collected will inform the treatment and in addition, the future monitoring and control studies of parasite populations.

Keywords

AscaridscatsCystoisosporadogsGiardiaIrelandlungwormsnematodeprevalenceprotozoa
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 146 , Issue 6 , May 2019 , pp. 746 - 752
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alho, AM, Meireles, J, Schnyder, M, Cardoso, L, Belo, S, Deplazes, P and de Carvalho, LM (2018) Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum: the current situation of two major canine heartworms in Portugal. Veterinary Parasitology 252, 120–126.Google Scholar
Barutzki, D and Schaper, R (2011) Results of parasitological examinations of faecal samples from cats and dogs in Germany between 2003 and 2010. Parasitology Research 109, 45–60.Google Scholar
Barutzki, D and Schaper, R (2013) Age-dependant prevalence of endoparasites in young dogs and cats up to one year of age. Parasitology Research 112, 119–131.Google Scholar
Batchelor, DJ, Tzannes, S, Graham, PA, Wastling, JM, Pinchbeck, GL and German, AJ (2008) Detection of endoparasites with zoonotic potential in dogs with gastrointestinal disease in the UK. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 55, 99–104.Google Scholar
Becker, A-C, Rohen, M, Epe, C and Schnieder, T (2012) Prevalence of endoparasites in stray and fostered dogs and cats in Northern Germany. Parasitology Research 111, 849–857.Google Scholar
Beltrán-Beck, B and Zancanaro, G (2017) Assessment of Echinococcus multilocularis surveillance reports submitted in 2017 in the context of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1152/2011. EFSA Journal 15, 5051.Google Scholar
Beugnet, F, Bourdeau, P, Chalvet-Monfray, K, Cozma, V, Farkas, R, Guillot, J, Halos, L, Joachim, A, Losson, B, Miró, G, Otranto, D, Renaud, M and Rinaldi, L (2014) Parasites of domestic owned cats in Europe: co-infestations and risk factors. Parasites & Vectors 7, 291.Google Scholar
Bouzid, M, Halai, K, Jeffreys, D and Hunter, PR (2015) The prevalence of Giardia infection in dogs and cats, a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies from stool samples. Veterinary Parasitology 207, 181–202.Google Scholar
Brianti, E, Gaglio, G, Napoli, E, Falsone, L, Giannetto, S, Latrofa, MS, Giannelli, A, Dantas-Torres, F and Otranto, D (2013) Evidence for direct transmission of the cat lungworm Troglostrongylus brevior (Strongylida: Crenosomatidae). Parasitology 140, 821–824.Google Scholar
Brianti, E, Giannetto, S, Dantas-Torres, F and Otranto, D (2014) Lungworms of the genus Troglostrongylus (strongylida: Crenosomatidae): neglected parasites for domestic cats. Veterinary Parasitology 202, 104–112.Google Scholar
Briggs, KR, Yaros, JP, Liotta, JL, Lucio-Forster, A, Lee, AC and Bowman, DD (2013) Detecting Aelurostrongylus abstrusus -specific IgG antibody using an immunofluorescence assay. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15, 1114–1118.Google Scholar
Capári, B, Hamel, D, Visser, M, Winter, R, Pfister, K and Rehbein, S (2013) Parasitic infections of domestic cats, Felis catus, in western Hungary. Veterinary Parasitology 192, 33–42.Google Scholar
Casemore, D (1991) Laboratory methods for diagnosing cryptosporidiosis. Journal of Clinical Pathology 44, 445–451.Google Scholar
Deplazes, P, Hegglin, D, Gloor, S and Romig, T (2004) Wilderness in the city: the urbanization of Echinococcus multilocularis. Trends in Parasitology 20, 77–84.Google Scholar
Elmore, SA, Jones, JL, Conrad, PA, Patton, S, Lindsay, DS and Dubey, JP (2010) Toxoplasma gondii: epidemiology, feline clinical aspects, and prevention. Trends in Parasitology 26, 190–196.Google Scholar
Euzeby, J (1981) La coprologie chez les carnivores. In Diagnostic expérimental des helminthoses animales: travaux pratiques d’helminthologie vétérinaire, Livre 1, Informations. Paris, France: Techniques des Services Vétérinaires, pp. 195–214.Google Scholar
Georgi, J and Georgi, M (1991) Canine Clinical Parasitology. Malvern, Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.Google Scholar
Giannelli, A, Capelli, G, Joachim, A, Hinney, B, Losson, B, Kirkova, Z, René-Martellet, M, Papadopoulos, E, Farkas, R, Napoli, E, Brianti, E, Tamponi, C, Varcasia, A, Margarida Alho, A, Madeira de Carvalho, L, Cardoso, L, Maia, C, Mircean, V, Mihalca, AD, Miró, G, Schnyder, M, Cantacessi, C, Colella, V, Cavalera, MA, Latrofa, MS, Annoscia, G, Knaus, M, Halos, L, Beugnet, F and Otranto, D (2017) Lungworms and gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats: a European perspective. International Journal for Parasitology 47, 517–528.Google Scholar
Hatch, C (1970) Echinococcus granulosus equinus in Irish dogs. The Veterinary Record 86, 632–633.Google Scholar
Hegglin, D and Deplazes, P (2013) Control of Echinococcus multilocularis: strategies, feasibility and cost – benefit analyses. International Journal for Parasitology 43, 327–337.Google Scholar
Hegglin, D, Bontadina, F and Deplazes, P (2015) Human-wildlife interactions and zoonotic transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis. Trends in Parasitology 31, 167–173.Google Scholar
Juvet, F, Lappin, MR, Brennan, S and Mooney, CT (2010) Prevalence of selected infectious agents in cats in Ireland. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12, 476–482.Google Scholar
Knaus, M, Chester, ST, Rosentel, J, Kühnert, A and Rehbein, S (2014) Efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against larval and adult stages of the cat lungworm, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. Veterinary Parasitology 202, 64–68.Google Scholar
Liccioli, S, Giraudoux, P, Deplazes, P and Massolo, A (2015) Wilderness in the ‘city’ revisited: different urbes shape transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis by altering predator and prey communities. Trends in Parasitology 31, 297–305.Google Scholar
McCarthy, G, Ferrand, M, De Waal, T, Zintl, A, McGrath, G, Byrne, W and O'Neill, EJ (2016) Geographical distribution of Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Republic of Ireland. Parasitology 143, 588–593.Google Scholar
McGarry, JW and Morgan, ER (2009) Identification of first-stage larvae of metastrongyles from dogs. The Veterinary record 165, 258–261.Google Scholar
Mircean, V, Titilincu, A and Vasile, C (2010) Prevalence of endoparasites in household cat (Felis catus) populations from Transylvania (Romania) and association with risk factors. Veterinary Parasitology 171, 163–166.Google Scholar
Morgan, ER, Jefferies, R, van Otterdijk, L, McEniry, RB, Allen, F, Bakewell, M and Shaw, SE (2010) Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs: presentation and risk factors. Veterinary Parasitology 173, 255–261.Google Scholar
Murphy, TM, Wahlström, H, Dold, C, Keegan, JD, McCann, A, Melville, J, Murphy, D and McAteer, W (2012) Freedom from Echinococcus multilocularis: an Irish perspective. Veterinary Parasitology 190, 196–203.Google Scholar
Pallant, L, Barutzki, D, Schaper, R and Thompson, R (2015) The epidemiology of infections with Giardia species and genotypes in well cared for dogs and cats in Germany. Parasites & Vectors 8, 2.Google Scholar
Paoletti, B, Traversa, D, Iorio, R, De Berardinis, A, Bartolini, R, Salini, R and Di Cesare, A (2015) Zoonotic parasites in feces and fur of stray and private dogs from Italy. Parasitology Research 114, 2135–2141.Google Scholar
Raue, K, Heuer, L, Böhm, C, Wolken, S, Epe, C and Strube, C (2017) 10-year parasitological examination results (2003 to 2012) of faecal samples from horses, ruminants, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits and hedgehogs. Parasitology Research 116, 3315–3330.Google Scholar
Rauscher, BA, Schäfer-Somi, S, Ehling-Schulz, M, Möstl, K, Handl, S, Hinney, B, Spergser, J, Schaper, R and Joachim, A (2013) Control of canine endoparasites, especially Isospora spp., with procox in naturally infected puppies: parasitological, bacteriological and health parameters. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine 3, 121–130.Google Scholar
Schnyder, M, Schaper, R, Bilbrough, G, Morgan, ER and Deplazes, P (2013) Seroepidemiological survey for canine angiostrongylosis in dogs from Germany and the UK using combined detection of Angiostrongylus vasorum antigen and specific antibodies. Parasitology 140, 1442–1450.Google Scholar
Schnyder, M, Jefferies, R, Schucan, A, Morgan, ER and Deplazes, P (2015) Comparison of coprological, immunological and molecular methods for the detection of dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum before and after anthelmintic treatment. Parasitology 142, 1270–1277.Google Scholar
Stuart, P, Golden, O, Zintl, A, De Waal, T, Mulcahy, G, Mccarthy, E and Lawton, C (2013) A coprological survey of parasites of wild carnivores in Ireland. Parasitology Research 112, 3587–3693.Google Scholar
Tamponi, C, Varcasia, A, Brianti, E, Pipia, AP, Frau, V, Pinna Parpaglia, ML, Sanna, G, Garippa, G, Otranto, D and Scala, A (2014) New insights on metastrongyloid lungworms infecting cats of Sardinia, Italy. Veterinary Parasitology 203, 222–226.Google Scholar
Traversa, D, Lia, RP, Iorio, R, Boari, A, Paradies, P, Capelli, G, Avolio, S and Otranto, D (2008) Diagnosis and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Strongylida) infection in cats from Italy. Veterinary Parasitology 153, 182–186.Google Scholar
Tutt, C (2006) Small Animal Dentistry: A Manual of Techniques, 1st Edn. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar
Waap, H, Gomes, J and Nunes, T (2014) Parasite communities in stray cat populations from Lisbon, Portugal. Journal of Helminthology 88, 389–395.Google Scholar
Wall, R, Shaw, SE and Penaliggon, J (1997) The prevalence of flea species on cats and dogs in Ireland. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 11, 404–406.Google Scholar
Wolfe, A, Hogan, S, Maguire, D, Fitzpatrick, C, Vaughan, L, Wall, D, Hayden, TJ and Mulcahy, G (2001) Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Ireland as hosts for parasites of potential zoonotic and veterinary significance. Veterinary Record 22, 759–763.Google Scholar
Zając, V, Wójcik-Fatla, A, Sawczyn, A, Cisak, E, Sroka, J, Kloc, A, Zając, Z, Buczek, A, Dutkiewicz, J and Bartosik, K (2017) Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 24, 39–43.Google Scholar
Zottler, E-M, Strube, C and Schnyder, M (2017) Detection of specific antibodies in cats infected with the lung nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. Veterinary Parasitology 235, 75–82.Google Scholar