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Parasites in stray dogs from Italy: prevalence, risk factors and management concerns

Acta Parasitologica volume 63, pages 27–32 (2018)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 April 2018

Abstract

Parasites are among the most common pathogens recorded in dogs. High prevalence rates are usually reported in stray and shelter dogs, as these animals are less likely to be tested and treated. In this study a survey was carried out on intestinal and lung parasites of stray dogs at the moment of the admission in a shelter in Central Italy. In the period June 2014–June 2015, 262 individual faecal samples were examined. Twelve parasitic taxa were detected. Helminths were more prevalent than protozoa (61.8% and 25.6%, respectively). Ancylostomatidae showed the higher prevalence (40.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (21.4%), Toxocara canis (20.6%) and Trichuris vulpis (17.6%). Angiostrongylus vasorum was the most prevalent lungworm (12.6%), Crenosoma vulpis being recorded just in one dog. G. duodenalis had a high prevalence, probably because of the diagnostic techniques adopted, actually the most sensitive available for its detection. Nevertheless, the zoonotic potential of this parasite in dogs appears reduced, as all the isolates were identified as C (24.0%) and D (76.0%) dog specific assemblages. Taeniidae constituted a high potential zoonotic risk, as from the eggs it is impossible to exclude they were Echinococcus granulosus, the most relevant zoonotic parasite in Europe. The present study underline the importance of stray dogs control, aimed at preventing or minimizing parasitic spread and zoonotic transmission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 00178, Roma, Italy

    Claudio De Liberato, Cristina Amoruso, Alessia Scarito, Andrea Carvelli, Francesca Iacoponi & Paola Scaramozzino

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina traslazionale, 00133, Roma, Italy

    Federica Berrilli & Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo

  3. La Fattoria di Tobia Shelter, 00036, Palestrina (Roma), Italy

    Livio Odorizi

  4. Private Practitioner Vet, 00100, Roma, Italy

    Roberto Scarcella

  5. ASL Roma 5, 00036, Palestrina (Roma), Italy

    Marco Barni

Authors
  1. Claudio De Liberato
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  2. Federica Berrilli
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  3. Livio Odorizi
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  4. Roberto Scarcella
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  5. Marco Barni
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  6. Cristina Amoruso
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  7. Alessia Scarito
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  8. Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo
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  9. Andrea Carvelli
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  10. Francesca Iacoponi
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  11. Paola Scaramozzino
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Correspondence to Andrea Carvelli.

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De Liberato, C., Berrilli, F., Odorizi, L. et al. Parasites in stray dogs from Italy: prevalence, risk factors and management concerns. Acta Parasit. 63, 27–32 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0003

Keywords

  • Dog
  • parasites
  • zoonosis
  • risk factors
  • Italy