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A repeated cross-sectional study of intestinal parasites in Texas shelter dogs using fecal flotation and saline sedimentation

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Abstract

Estimates of intestinal parasite prevalence in canine populations have largely been based on use of fecal flotation methods only. Dogs in animal shelters are likely at higher risk of intestinal parasite infection because of their previous exposure history. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among Texas shelter dogs using centrifugal fecal flotation and saline sedimentation techniques, to identify risk factors for infection, and to compare proportions of positive samples detected via fecal flotation vs. saline sedimentation for the most common parasites. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected fecal samples from dogs on three visits to each of seven Texas animal shelters between May 2013 and December 2014. Fecal flotation and/or saline sedimentation were used to identify parasites in samples. Fecal samples were collected from 529 dogs. The most frequently detected parasites were Ancylostoma caninum (26.4% via fecal flotation, 20.7% via saline sedimentation) and Trichuris vulpis (12.0% via fecal flotation, 14.1% via saline sedimentation). Risk factors for certain parasites were identified; for example, dogs with abnormal fecal consistency were more likely to be shedding T. vulpis eggs than dogs with normal fecal consistency (OR = 1.8, p = 0.005). The addition of fecal sedimentation not only added to the number of parasite species detected in this study, but it also increased the number of dogs diagnosed with the common intestinal parasites that are primarily detected using fecal flotation methods. Texas shelter dogs carry a high burden of intestinal parasites, including those of zoonotic importance.

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Data availability

The dataset generated and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge and thank the directors, veterinarians, and staff at the animal shelters throughout Texas. They thank Karen Snowden for her support, and Frida Cano, Alicia Leahy, Rachel Curtis-Robles, and Trevor Tenney for their field and laboratory assistance.

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Bernice Barbour Foundation, Inc. and in part through a National Institutes of Health T-32 Fellowship, under grant number: 2T32OD011083-06. Also, JYR was funded by the National Center of Veterinary Parasitology Residency (Merial Resident).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Jessica Y. Rodriguez & Carolyn L. Hodo

  2. Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    Jessica Y. Rodriguez

  3. Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Kevin J. Cummings

  4. Department of Comparative Medicine, Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA

    Carolyn L. Hodo

  5. Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Sarah A. Hamer

Authors
  1. Jessica Y. Rodriguez
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  2. Kevin J. Cummings
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  3. Carolyn L. Hodo
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  4. Sarah A. Hamer
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Contributions

JYR conceptualized the study, assisted with sample collection, performed the fecal diagnostic tests, and wrote the original draft. KJC conducted the data analysis and reviewed, edited, and contributed to the draft. CLH assisted with sample collection and reviewed, edited, and contributed to the draft. SAH reviewed, edited, and contributed to the draft and acquired funding that helped support this study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin J. Cummings.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted in accordance with client-owned animal use protocols approved by the Texas A&M University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (AUP 2012–0267). Informed consent was obtained from participating animal shelter directors.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of interests

JYR is currently employed by Zoetis, Inc. Zoetis did not sponsor this research nor was JYR a Zoetis employee at the time the research was conducted. All authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationship(s) which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

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Section Editor: Una Ryan

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Rodriguez, J.Y., Cummings, K.J., Hodo, C.L. et al. A repeated cross-sectional study of intestinal parasites in Texas shelter dogs using fecal flotation and saline sedimentation. Parasitol Res 122, 237–243 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07722-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07722-1

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