1
` Incidence and treatment of the diarrhoeic syndrome with
parasite aetiology in dogs and cats.
Incidenţa şi terapia în sindromul diareic cu etiologie
parazitară la câini şi pisici.
*F.M.V.
Spiru Haret
**U.S.A.M.V. Bucureşti
Abstract
The investigations were carried out on a number of 153 dogs and 23 cats
from different breeds and ages with a diarrhoea syndrome after a long
therapy with antibiotics. Faecal examinations point out infestations
with species of protozoa and nematodes correlated with age of animals.
Infestations with Isospora sp. were diagnosed in 49.5 % from examined
dogs and in 30.4 % from cats registered only in puppies.
Incidence of infestations with Giardia sp. were recorded in 15.6 % dogs
from which 83.3 % in puppies and 26.08 % in young cat s. The incidence
of infestation with Toxocara canis was 28.7 % in dogs from which 81,8 %
in puppies and with Toxocara cati 21.7 % in cats from which 60 % in
young cats. Infestations with Ancylostomidae where diagnosed in 18.3 %
dogs from which 53.5 % in puppies and 8.6 % in young cats. Infestations
with Trichocephalus where registered only in dogs with an incidence of
11.7% from which 61.1 % in adults.
The control of infestations with Isospora sp. was carried out with
Ultrasol 20 -30mg/Kg i.m. for 3 days running with 96 %
efficacy. Infestations with Giardia sp. where carried out with Flagyl
administrated orally for 6 days running with 30 -40mg/Kg registered 85
% efficacy. The control of infestations with nematodes was carried out
with usual antihelminthics and registered an entirely efficacy after 10
days.
Key words – protozoas, nematodes, dogs, cats, incidence, therapy.
Introduction
The diarrhoeic syndrome in pets is
a frequent disorder observed mainly in young animals (6). The treatment
uses a range of antibiotics but the cure is not always 100% because the
syndrome’s aetiology may also involve parasitic agents (protozoa and
helminths). The determination of the polyfactorial aetiology of the
diarrhoeic syndrome requires the identification of the endoparasites
species in laboratory. Minnaarn W.N. et al. (8) investigated 164 pet
dogs and reported 88% incidence of infestation with Ancylostoma
caninum, 36% with Toxocara canis, 9% with Toxascaris leonina and 6%
with Trichocephalus vulpis. The authors mentioned the zoonotic
potential of these nematoda species. Horejs R., Kondela B.(5) reported
a 53.2% incidence of infestation with Giardia in puppets aged 6-12
weeks, 3.4% in adult male dogs and 7% in bitches. O Lorcain P. (7)
investigated 350 dogs and 81 cats and reported Ascaridae infection in
82.6% of the puppies aged 3-6 months and in 42% of the young cats.
Gonenc A. şi col.(3) used Drontal plus in Ascaridae infections in dogs
and reported 100% efficacy.
Material and methods
The investigations were conducted within the clinic
of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, during
February 2006 – June 2007, on 153 dogs and 23 cats of various breeds
and ages. The animals displayed a persistent diarrhoeic syndrome after
long-term medication with antibiotics. The laboratory investigations
were conducted by direct examination of the coprologic samples, using
warm saline to detect Giardia trophosoits. We also used Willis and Mc.
Master ovohelminthoscopic flotation techniques. The incidence of
endoparasite infestations was determined by age category.
Treatment of Isospora infestations was done with
Ultrasol, 20 – 30 mg /kg, IM, for 3 consecutive days. Giardia
infestations were treated with Flagyl, 30 – 40 mg/kg. per os, for 6
days. Toxocarosis and ancylostomosis were treated with Drontal plus,
Cestal plus or Pratel, per os, in usual doses.Trichocephalus vulpis
infestations were treated with Triantelm or Paratak, per os, in usual
doses.
Results and discussions
The coproscopic revealed infestations with protozoa and nematodes
correlated with pet’s age. Table 1 displays the incidence of Isospora
sp., infestations showing 76 positive cases (49.6 %) in the examined
dogs, 100 % in the puppies. Only 7 positive cases (30.4 %) were
detected in cats, all in the young felines.(Table 1)
Table 1
Incidence of Isospora sp. infestations
Species
Examined
animals Positive
cases Percentage
Youngs
Adults
Nr. %
Nr. %
Dogs 153
76 49.6
76
100 -
-
Cats 23 7
30.4
7
100 - -
Total 176
83 47.1
83
100
- -
Mitchell S.M. et al.(9) conducted in 2007 experiments of Beagle bitches
aged 6 – 8 weeks infested with 5 x 104 Isospora canis oocysts and
observed the start of the syndrome 9 – 11 days after infestation, with
a patience of 7 – 18 days. The authors concluded that Isospora canis
may be the main cause for the diarrhoeic syndrome in puppies.
Papazahariadon M. et al. (10) observed in 2007 a 3.9 % incidence of the
Isospora sp. infestation in the coprologic examination of 281 puppies.
Of the 76 dogs infested with Isospora canis, in 67 cases (88.1 %) the
infestations occurred in puppies aged 1 – 3 months and in 9 cases (11.8
%) the infestations occurred at the age of 4 – 6 months. In kittens, on
7 positive cases, in 5 animals (71.4 %) the infestations were diagnosed
at the age of de 1 – 3 months and in 2 cases (28.5 %) in cats 4 – 6old.
(Table 2).
Table 2
Incidence of Isospora sp.
infestations by age group
Species Positive cases
Age 1-3 months Age 4-6 months
Nr.
% Nr. %
Dogs 76 67
88.1
9 11.8
Cats 7 5
71.4
2 28.5
Total 83 72
86.5
11 13.2
The incidence of Giardia infestation is as follows: of 153 examined
dogs, 24 (15.6%) were infested with Giardia canis, of which 83.3% were
puppies and 16.6% were adult dogs. Of 23 examined cats, 6 (26.08%) were
infested with Giardia, all being kittens. (Table 3)
Table 3
Incidence of Giardia sp. infestations
Species
Examined
animals Positive cases
Percent % Youngs Adults
Nr % Nr. %
Dogs 153 24
15.6
20 83.3 4
16.6
Cats 23 6
26.08 6 100
- -
Total 176 30
17.04 26 86.6
4 13.3
The incidence of Giardia sp. infestations by age groups is as follows:
75% of the infestations occurred in puppies aged 1 to 3 months, 20% in
puppies aged 4 to 7 months and 5% in dogs aged 8 to 10 months. In the
young cats infested with Giardia cati, 66.6% of the cases occurred in
animals aged 1 to 3 months and 16.6% each in cats aged 4 to 7 months
and 8 to 10 months.(Table 4)
Table 4
Incidence
of Giardia sp infestations by age group in young animals
Species Positive
cases Age 1-3 months Age 4-7
months Age 8-10 months
Nr.
%
Nr. %
Nr. %
Dogs
20 15
75,0 4
20,0 1
5,0
Cats
6
4
66,6 1
16,6 1
16,6
Total
26 19
73,0 5
19,2 2
7,6
Heusinger A.(4) reported in 2007 a 21% incidence of Giardia sp.
infestations in dogs, determined by ELISA on 3999 coprology samples.
Papazahariadon M. et al. (10) reported a 4.3 % incidence of Giardia
canis infestations in 281 examined coprology samples. Diaz V. et al. (
1 ) published in 1996 the results of the epidemiological study of
giradiosis in dogs conducted by coproscopy examination and on the
samples of matter curetted from the duodenum from slaughtered animals
and from corpses.
The incidence of Giardia infestation was 21.9% in puppies aged a few
months and 10.8% in adult dogs.
Toxocara canis infections was observed in 28.7% of the examined dogs,
of which 81.8% in puppies and 18.1% in adult dogs. Five cats (21.7%)
showed Toxocara canis infections, 60.0% in kittens and 40.0% in adult
cats.(Table 5)
Table 5
Incidence of Toxocara sp. infestations
Species Examined animals
Positive
cases Percent
% Youngs Adults
Nr. % Nr. %
Dogs 153 44
28.7 36 81.8
8 18.1
Cats 23 5
21.7 3
60.0 2 40.0
Total 176 49
27.8 39 79.5
10 20.4
1
Jacob H.T. et al. (6) surveyed in 2007 the prevalence of
gastrointestinal infections with nematodes in dogs, determined by
coprologic examination and necropsy. The incidence of Toxocara canis
infestation was 21.0%, of Ancylostoma caninum infestation was 32.0% and
of Trichocephalus vulpis was 3.0%.
Papazahariadon M et al. (10) diagnosed a 12.8% prevalence of Toxocara
canis infestation, 19.6% for Trichocephalus vulpis, 2.8% for
Ancylostoma caninum and 0/7% for Toxascaris leonine.
El. Memjakie S. M et al. (2) conducted investigations on the importance
of the Toxocara species to the public health. The authors mention the
zoonotic character of Toxocara infestations in the carnivore pets and
its implication to the health state of the children. The incidence of
Toxocara infestations was 14.6% of the dogs and 5.2% in cats. The
presence of adult ascarids was observed in 18.7% of the slaughtered
dogs and in 7.4% of the cats. The authors verified the destructive
effect of 4 chemical disinfectants on Toxocara eggs and noticed that 5%
ammonia is the most efficient, followed by the phenolic acid,
formaldehyde and betadine solution.
Of the 153 examined dogs, 28 (18.3%) showed infestation with
Ancylostoma caninum, of which 15 (53.5%) were puppies and 13 (46.4%)
were adult dogs. The incidence was 8.6% in cats, all in kittens.(Table
6)
Table 6
Incidence of Ancylostoma sp. infestations
Species Examined animals
Positive
cases Percent
% Youngs Adults
N. % Nr. %
Dogs 153 28
18.3 15 53.5
13 46.4
Cats 23 2
8.6 2
100 - -
Total 176 30
17.04 17
56.6 13 43.3
The
incidence of Trichocephalus vulpis infestation in dogs
was 11.7%, of which 38.8% in puppies and 61.1% in adult animals. Nr.
Trichocephalus vulpis infestation was observed in the examined
cats.(Table 7)
Table 7
Incidence of Trichocephalus vulpis infestations
Species Examined animals
Positive cases Percent %
Youngs Adults
Nr % Nr. %
Dogs 153 18
11.7 7 38.8
11 61.1
Cats 23 -
- - -
- -
Total 176 18
10.2 7 38.8
11 61.1
Isospora sp. infestations were treated with Ultrasol, 20 – 30 mg
/
kg, IM, for 3 days. The treatment conducted on 46 puppies with
infestations cured 44 of the animals (95.6% efficacy). Giardia sp.
infestations were treated with Flagyl, 30 – 40 mg / kg. per os, for 6
days, with an efficacy of 85% (Table 8).
Table 8
Therapeutic aspects in protosoosis
Disease Level of infection-OPG
Animals
Efficacy
%
before
after
treated cured
treatement
Isosporosis 150-1500
0-100 46
44 95,6
Giardiosis ++++
+ -- ++ 20
17 85,0
Nematodes infestation was treated in digs as follows: Toxocara and
Ancylostoma infestations were treated with one of the following drugs,
Drontal plus Cestal plus or Pratel, in the usual dozes, with 100%
efficacy. Trichocephalus vulpis infestations in dogs were treated with
Triantelm or Paratak, per os, in the usual dozes, with 100% efficacy
(Table 9).
Table 9
Therapeutic aspects in nematodes infestations
Disease Level of
infection-OPG
Animals
Efficacy
%
before
after
treated cured
treatement
Toxocarosis 50-1500
0
36
36 100
Ancylostomosis 100-1650
0
28
28 100
Tricocephalosis 50-2000
0
18
18 100
Conclusions
1. The incidence of Isospora sp. infestation was 57.1
% in puppies and 30.4 % in kittens.
2. The prevalence of Giardia sp. infestation was 11.7
% in dogs and 26.08 % in kittens.
3. The incidence of Toxocara sp. infestation was 28.7
% in dogs and 21.7 % in cats.
4. The incidence of Ancylostoma sp. infestation was
18.3 % in dogs and 8.6 % in cats.
5. The prevalence of Trichocephalus vulpis
infestation was 11.7 % in dogs, of which 61.1 % in adult dogs.
6. The treatment of Isospora sp. infestation with
Ultrasol was 95.6 % efficient.
7. The treatment of Giardia sp. infestation with
Flagyl was 85 % efficient.
8. The treatment of nematodes infestations with the
usual antihelminth preparations was 100 % efficient.
Bibliografy
1. Diaz V. et all ( 1996 ) – Aspects of animal giardiosis in
Granada
provience ( Southern Spain ) , Vet. Parasitol. Vol. 64, nr.3,171
– 176.
2. El Memjakie S. M. et all ( 2007 ) A study of Toxocara species and
its public health importance .Vet.Med. Jour. Giza ( 55 ) , 1, 219
–
230.
3. Gonënc A., et all ( 1998 ) – The effect of Drontal plus
against
ascarid and some cestode infestations in dogs. Acta Parasitol.Turcica
22, (4), 442-444
4. Heusinger A. – ( 2007 ) Giardieninfektionen , Kleintierpraxis 52, (
4 ), 245 – 248.
5. Horejs R., Kondela B. ( 1994 ) – Giardia infection in dogs in a
breeding unit. Vet.Med. 39, 2/ 3 , 93 – 101.
6. Jacob H..T.,Ayele T.,Fikru R.,Basu A:K: ( 2007 ) – Gastrointestinal
nematodes in dogs from Debre Zeit Ethiopia, Vet. Parasitol.148,
2, 144 –
148.
7. O’ Lorcain P. ( 1994 ) – Epidemiology of Toxocara sp. in stray dogs
and cats in Dublin Ireland, Jour.of Helminthol. 9/ 2, 357 – 362.
8.Minnaarn W:N:,Krecek R:C: ( 2001 ) – Helminths in dogs belonging to
people in a resource limited urban community in Gauteng South Africa.
Onderstepoort Jour. of Vet. Research 68, (2 ), 111 – 117.
9.Mitchell S:M. et all (2007) Cystoisospora canis infestation in dogs,
clinical signs, pathogenesis and reproducible clinical disease in
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Rezumat
Cercetările s-au efectuat pe un număr de 153 câini şi 23 pisici cu
sindrom diareic după terapie îndelungată cu antibiotice. Examenul
coproscopic a evidenţiat infestaţii cu specii de protozoare şi nematode
corelate cu vârsta animalelor. Infestaţii cu Isospora s-au diagnosticat
la 49,5 % din câinii examinaţi şi la 30,4 % din pisici fiind
înregistrate numai la tineret. Incidenţa infestaţiilor cu Giardia
a
fost de 15,6 % la câini din care 83,3 % la căţei şi de 26,08 la
tineretul felin. Incidenţa infestaţiei cu Toxocara canis a fost de 28,7
% din care 81,8 % la căţei, iar cu Toxocara cati de 21,7 % din care 60
% la tineret. Infestaţii cu Ancylostomidae s-au diagnosticat la 18,3 %
din câini din care 53,5 % la căţei şi 8,6 % la tineretul
felin.Infestaţii cu Trichocephalus s-au înregistrat numai la câini cu o
incidenţă de 11,7% din care 61,1% la adulţi.
Combaterea infestaţiilor cu Isospora sp. s-a realizat cu Ultrasol în
doză de 20 – 30 mg /kg. administrat i.m. 3 zile consecutiv cu
eficacitate de 96%.Infestaţiile cu Giardia sp. au fost tratate cu
Flagyl în doză de 30 – 40 mg./kg. per os timp de 6 zile cu
eficacitate
de 85%. Combaterea infestaţiilor nu nematode s-a efectuat cu produse
antihelmintice uzuale şi s-a obţinut o eficacitate de 100% la 10 zile
după tratament.
Cuvinte cheie – protozoare, nematode, câini,
pisici, incidenţă, terapie.
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