A 5-year retrospective analysis of ascarid infections (Tox-ocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) in dogs from southern Italy was performed to update the epidemiological scenario of these parasites and to identify the risk factors which may favour these infections in animals in this study area. A total of 8,149 dogs, referred to our labs for copromicroscopic analysis using the FLOTAC tech-nique, was considered. A sub-sample of 500 faecal samples were analysed also with the Mini-FLOTAC tech-nique. Of the overall dog samples analysed, 9,2 % (95 % CI = 8,6–9,8) resulted positive for T. canis while 0,5 % (95 % CI = 0,4–0,7) resulted positive for T. leonina. Co-infections with T. canis and T. leonina were found in 0,1 % of dogs (95 % CI = 0,0–0,1). The results obtained by the FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC examinations showed a nearly perfect k agreement (k = 0,99, P < 0,001) between these two techniques. Chi-square test showed positivity to T. canis and T. le-onina significantly (P < 0,001) associated with dogs housed outdoor (i.e., that lived in garden or in kennel). Moreover, the positivity for T. canis was significantly associated (P < 0,001) also with age (i.e., puppies), as shown by the logistic regression. The decreasing overall prevalence both for T. canis and T. leonina during the years of monitoring, showed that, as suggested by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Par-asites, the regular diagnosis could contribute to an efficient control of these parasites.
A five-year retrospective study on ascarid infections in dogs in southern Italy / Maurelli, M. P.; Pepe, P.; Illiano, S.; Nocerino, M.; Ciuca, L.; Saralli, G.; Cringoli, G.; Rinaldi, L.. - In: SCHWEIZER ARCHIV FUR TIERHEILKUNDE. - ISSN 0036-7281. - 164:1(2022), pp. 79-88. [10.17236/sat00339]
A five-year retrospective study on ascarid infections in dogs in southern Italy
Maurelli M. P.;Pepe P.
;Illiano S.;Nocerino M.;Ciuca L.;Cringoli G.;Rinaldi L.
2022
Abstract
A 5-year retrospective analysis of ascarid infections (Tox-ocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) in dogs from southern Italy was performed to update the epidemiological scenario of these parasites and to identify the risk factors which may favour these infections in animals in this study area. A total of 8,149 dogs, referred to our labs for copromicroscopic analysis using the FLOTAC tech-nique, was considered. A sub-sample of 500 faecal samples were analysed also with the Mini-FLOTAC tech-nique. Of the overall dog samples analysed, 9,2 % (95 % CI = 8,6–9,8) resulted positive for T. canis while 0,5 % (95 % CI = 0,4–0,7) resulted positive for T. leonina. Co-infections with T. canis and T. leonina were found in 0,1 % of dogs (95 % CI = 0,0–0,1). The results obtained by the FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC examinations showed a nearly perfect k agreement (k = 0,99, P < 0,001) between these two techniques. Chi-square test showed positivity to T. canis and T. le-onina significantly (P < 0,001) associated with dogs housed outdoor (i.e., that lived in garden or in kennel). Moreover, the positivity for T. canis was significantly associated (P < 0,001) also with age (i.e., puppies), as shown by the logistic regression. The decreasing overall prevalence both for T. canis and T. leonina during the years of monitoring, showed that, as suggested by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Par-asites, the regular diagnosis could contribute to an efficient control of these parasites.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.