RESUMO

The objectives of this work were to investigate the occurrence of parasites in feces of cats, compare different coproparasitological techniques for their diagnosis and determine associations with parasitism. The samples were processed using three different coproparasitological techniques: centrifugal flotation in sucrose, centrifugal flotation in ZnSO4 and simple sedimentation. The parasitic association between parasitism and variables such as age, sex and fecal consistency was performed using the chi-square test or the G test with a significance level of 5%. A total of 237 samples were analyzed, of which 93 (39.2%) were positive, being Ancylostoma spp. (17.3%), Giardia intestinalis (12.2%), Platynosomum illiciens (8.0%), Cystoisospora spp. (6.3%), Toxoplasma gondii/ Hammondia hammondi (3.4%), Diphyllobothriidae (2.1%), Toxocara spp. (1.7%), Dipylidium caninum (1.3%) and Mesocestoides spp. (0.8%). In the parasitism association analysis, it was possible to verify a statistical difference in the age category for Cystoisospora spp. (p=0.001) observing a strong relationship between parasitism and young animals, the association with sex proved to be important for P. illiciens (p<0.001) with a higher frequency of parasitized females and fecal consistency revealed to be related to the parasites G. intestinalis (p=0.007) and P. illiciens (p=0.033) showing a higher number of positive animals for these parasites with normal fecal consistency. In conclusion, we observed a higher occurrence of Ancylostoma spp. and G. intestinalis in fecal samples from domestic cats received in routine diagnoses and the presence of other parasites with zoonotic potential, as well as the relationship of these diagnosed parasites with the categories sex, age and fecal consistency.(AU)

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar a ocorrência de parasitos em fezes de gatos, comparar diferentes técnicas coproparasitológicas para o seu diagnóstico e determinar as associações com o parasitismo. As amostras foram processadas usando três diferentes técnicas coproparasitológicas: centrífugo-flutuação em sacarose, centrífugo-flutuação em ZnSO4 e sedimentação simples. A associação parasitária entre o parasitismo e variáveis, como idade, sexo e consistência fecal, foi realizada pelo teste de qui-quadrado ou teste de G com nível de significância de 5%. No total, foram analisadas 237 amostras, das quais 93 (39,2%) foram positivas, sendo diagnosticados os parasitos Ancylostoma spp. (17,3%), Giardia intestinalis (12,2%), Platynosomum illiciens (8,0%), Cystoisospora spp. (6,3%), Toxoplasma gondii/ Hammondia hammondi (3,4%), Diphyllobothriidae (2,1%), Toxocara spp. (1,7%), Dipylidium caninum (1,3%) e Mesocestoides spp. (0,8%). Na análise de associação entre o parasitismo e as outras variáveis, foi possível verificar diferença estatística na categoria idade para Cystoisospora spp. (p=0,001), observando forte relação entre o parasitismo e animais jovens. A associação com o sexo demonstrou ser importante para P. illiciens (p<0,001), com maior frequência de fêmeas parasitadas. E a consistência fecal revelou ter relação com os parasitos G. intestinalis (p=0,007) e P. illiciens (p=0,033), com maior frequência de fezes com consistência normal nos animais positivos para esses parasitos. Em conclusão, foi observada uma maior ocorrência de Ancylostoma spp. e G. intestinalis em amostras fecais de gatos domésticos, recebidas em diagnósticos de rotina e a presença de outros parasitos com potencial zoonótico, como também, a relação desses parasitos diagnosticados com as categorias sexo, idade e consistência fecal.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Background: In Mexico City, there are 1.2 million dogs of which 10% are strays, which produce about 182 tons of feces per year. Among the intestinal parasites with zoonotic risk from dogs are Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Giardia and Dipylidium. These pathogens can be found in standard human environments, such as water, soil, food, parks, and contamination from dog feces, and represent a high risk to persons. Therefore it is important to promote prophylactic measures, which are based on hygiene, having pet deworming programs and control of stray dogs. The objective was identifying Toxocara spp., Giardia spp., Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma spp. and Coccidia in canids from the downtown area of Mexico City.Materials, Methods & Results: The study was conducted in Mexico City. A total of 1603 pet feces were collected and were classified according to gender and age (young animals 1.1 years). Microscopic diagnosis of parasites was achieved using the flotation technique of Willis. The proportion of contamination was considered as the percentage of positive samples out of all collected samples. The number of parasite eggs in each sample was counted, and eggs were then identified by structure and morphometry, to provide an additional measure of the degree of parasitization (number of eggs g-1 feces). Prevalence was analyzed using the Chi-square (χ²) test to compare age groups and gender, while the average number of parasites per gram of feces was analyzed using a “t” test with a confidence level of P < 0.05. The results showed that 13.10% (210) of the dogs were positive for some type of gastrointestinal parasite (Toxocara spp., Coccidia, Ancylostoma spp., Giardia spp., Dipylidium caninum) of which 115 (13.18%) were males and 95 (12.99%) females, with no gender difference (χ² = 0.013, P = 0.99). Giardia spp. was found in 25 young animals (6.9%) and 50 adults (4.0 %) whereas Toxocara spp. was less common (3.3% of young animals and 3.7% of adults).[...]

Assuntos

RESUMO

Background: In Mexico City, there are 1.2 million dogs of which 10% are strays, which produce about 182 tons of feces per year. Among the intestinal parasites with zoonotic risk from dogs are Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Giardia and Dipylidium. These pathogens can be found in standard human environments, such as water, soil, food, parks, and contamination from dog feces, and represent a high risk to persons. Therefore it is important to promote prophylactic measures, which are based on hygiene, having pet deworming programs and control of stray dogs. The objective was identifying Toxocara spp., Giardia spp., Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma spp. and Coccidia in canids from the downtown area of Mexico City.Materials, Methods & Results: The study was conducted in Mexico City. A total of 1603 pet feces were collected and were classified according to gender and age (young animals < 1 year and adults > 1.1 years). Microscopic diagnosis of parasites was achieved using the flotation technique of Willis. The proportion of contamination was considered as the percentage of positive samples out of all collected samples. The number of parasite eggs in each sample was counted, and eggs were then identified by structure and morphometry, to provide an additional measure of the degree of parasitization (number of eggs g-1 feces). Prevalence was analyzed using the Chi-square (χ²) test to compare age groups and gender, while the average number of parasites per gram of feces was analyzed using a “t” test with a confidence level of P < 0.05. The results showed that 13.10% (210) of the dogs were positive for some type of gastrointestinal parasite (Toxocara spp., Coccidia, Ancylostoma spp., Giardia spp., Dipylidium caninum) of which 115 (13.18%) were males and 95 (12.99%) females, with no gender difference (χ² = 0.013, P = 0.99). Giardia spp. was found in 25 young animals (6.9%) and 50 adults (4.0 %) whereas Toxocara spp. was less common (3.3% of young animals and 3.7% of adults).[...](AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Fecal examinations are the most commonly used laboratory tool for diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode parasitic infections. Zinc centrifugal floatation technique (FAUST et al., 1938) is not only considered to be efficient in detecting light parasitic structures, but it is also used for recovery of heavy structures. In order to evaluate the performance of that technique in the diagnosis of domestic cats' gastrointestinal helminthiasis, fecal examinations of 13 animals were carried out 15 days prior to the animals' deaths. At necropsy, adult gastrointestinal parasites found were collected, counted, fixed and identified. The studied technique was able to recover eggs from all detected nematodes and trematodes, but appeared inappropriate for recovery of cestode eggs.

O diagnóstico coproparasitológico é o recurso laboratorial mais utilizado para detecção de infecções parasitárias gastrintestinais. A técnica de centrífugo-flutuação com sulfato de zinco (FAUST et al., 1938) é técnica de eleição no diagnóstico de estruturas parasitárias leves, podendo também ser usada para detecção de estruturas pesadas. Para avaliar o desempenho dessa técnica no diagnóstico das helmintoses gastrintestinais de gatos domésticos, foram realizados exames coproparasitológicos de 13 gatos domésticos 15 dias antes de suas mortes. À necropsia, os helmintos adultos encontrados no tubo digestivo e fígado foram contados, fixados e identificados. A técnica utilizada mostrou-se capaz de recuperar ovos de todos os nematóides e trematódeos encontrados, mas não foi adequada para a recuperação de cestóides.

RESUMO

Fecal examinations are the most commonly used laboratory tool for diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode parasitic infections. Zinc centrifugal floatation technique (FAUST et al., 1938) is not only considered to be efficient in detecting light parasitic structures, but it is also used for recovery of heavy structures. In order to evaluate the performance of that technique in the diagnosis of domestic cats' gastrointestinal helminthiasis, fecal examinations of 13 animals were carried out 15 days prior to the animals' deaths. At necropsy, adult gastrointestinal parasites found were collected, counted, fixed and identified. The studied technique was able to recover eggs from all detected nematodes and trematodes, but appeared inappropriate for recovery of cestode eggs.

O diagnóstico coproparasitológico é o recurso laboratorial mais utilizado para detecção de infecções parasitárias gastrintestinais. A técnica de centrífugo-flutuação com sulfato de zinco (FAUST et al., 1938) é técnica de eleição no diagnóstico de estruturas parasitárias leves, podendo também ser usada para detecção de estruturas pesadas. Para avaliar o desempenho dessa técnica no diagnóstico das helmintoses gastrintestinais de gatos domésticos, foram realizados exames coproparasitológicos de 13 gatos domésticos 15 dias antes de suas mortes. À necropsia, os helmintos adultos encontrados no tubo digestivo e fígado foram contados, fixados e identificados. A técnica utilizada mostrou-se capaz de recuperar ovos de todos os nematóides e trematódeos encontrados, mas não foi adequada para a recuperação de cestóides.