Prevalencia de Toxocara canis y otros parásitos gastrointestinales en peros atendidos en una clínica veterinaria en San José, Costa Rica

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Toxocara canis infection in pet dogs presented to a Veterinary Clinic at San José, Costa Rica; measured between January 2002 and December 2004. A total of 1136 fecal samples were evaluated by the direct (saline-Lugol) and flotation methods (Sheather using a saturated sugar solution). One or more species of parasites was identified in 637 (56.0%) dogs. Single parasitic infections were present in (499/637) /78.3%) dogs   T. canis infection was diagnosed in 288 (25.3%) dogs evaluated. The following risk factors were identified with infection of T.canis age and breed. Animals <6 months had a higher risk of infection (OR=1.5, IC95% 1.1-1.9) and there was a significantly greater prevalence of T.canis in pure-breed dogs (33.1%) as compared with mixed-breed dogs (20.8%) (P<p.p5). other gastrointestinal parasities were diagnosed: Giardia duodenalis (227/1136) (19.9%), Ancylostoma spp. (149/1136) (13.1%), Coccidia (81/1136) (7.1%), Trichuris vulpis (17/1136) (1.4%), Dipylidium caninum (04/1136) (0.3&) and Stongyloides helmints demonstrates the neccesity for companion animal veterinarians to test and to monitor the infection status of dogs and take measures for further control in order to minimize zoonoric transmission.