FREQUENCY OF INTESTINAL PARASITES IN DOG STOOL SAMPLES IN A TOWN OF THE PONTAL DO TRIÂNGULO REGION, MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

Dogs are considered important reservoirs of intestinal parasites due to their coprophagic behavior and close interaction with humans. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia spp. cysts and of coccidia oocysts in dog stool samples collected at the Zoonosis Control Center (CCZ) and at pet shops in Ituiutaba town, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Eighty stool samples (40% puppies and 60% adult dogs) were collected from dogs of both genders in individual
and collective kennels. Cysts were then isolated from the samples using Sheather’s solution, and the oocysts were isolated in accordance with a modified version of the protocol by Ortega-Mora (1999). Thirty-four (42.5%) of dog samples were found to be positive for Giardia spp., 26 (51.0%) of which came from the CCZ, and 8 of which (27.6%) came from the pet shops. There was a prevalence of 13.72% (7) of oocysts in stool samples of CCZ dogs, and of 34.48% (10) oocysts in pet shop animals. The high prevalence of Giardia spp. cysts and oocysts in the samples may be associated
with exposure to parasites from stray dogs. Clustering of animals in collective kennels or pet shops promotes the risk of intestinal parasite transmission with high zoonotic potential for the animals and for the people living with them.