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Prevalence and risk factors associated with endoparasitosis of dogs and cats in Espírito Santo, Brazil

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for the occurrence of endoparasitosis in dogs and cats in Espírito Santo, Brazil. For the study, 345 dogs and 160 cats were examined. Faecal samples from the animals were collected, and owners were interviewed about their handling of their animals. For the diagnosis of the infections, the Willis-Molley, simple centrifugal flotation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques were performed. The data found in the tests were tabulated and analysed with a chi-square test (p <0.05), and calculation of odds ratios (OR) with confidence intervals of 95% were then performed to determine the association between the variables and the outcome of stool examinations. The prevalence of parasites was 59% for dogs and 54% for cats. The genus Ancylostoma was the most prevalent (45%). Supplying filtered water, not feeding raw foods, standardisation of a defecation site and cleaning up the faeces reduced the chances of developing intestinal parasites. An increased frequency of deworming was also shown to be a protective factor; specifically animals which received anthelmintic more than once a year had a lower predisposition for intestinal parasites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinarian, Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Brazil

    Diefrey Ribeiro Campos (CAPES Fellow)

  2. Student Course of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Brazil

    Luanna Castro Oliveira, Daniele Fassina de Siqueira, Lívia Reisen Perin & Nayara Camatta Campos

  3. Veterinarian, Dr. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Brazil

    Karina Preising Aptekmann

  4. Veterinarian, Dr. Federal Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário s/n, Guararema PO Box 16, Alegre, ES, 29500-000, Brazil

    Isabella Vilhena Freire Martins

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  1. Diefrey Ribeiro Campos
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  2. Luanna Castro Oliveira
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  3. Daniele Fassina de Siqueira
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  4. Lívia Reisen Perin
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  5. Nayara Camatta Campos
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Correspondence to Isabella Vilhena Freire Martins.

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Campos, D.R., Oliveira, L.C., de Siqueira, D.F. et al. Prevalence and risk factors associated with endoparasitosis of dogs and cats in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Acta Parasit. 61, 544–548 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-0072

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-0072

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