An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs from Southern Greater Buenos Aires (Argentina): Age, gender, breed, mixed infections, and seasonal and spatial patterns

A total of 2193 fecal samples from owned dogs were collected during the 2003-2004 period in Southern Greater Buenos Aires, and were evaluated for the presence of intestinal parasites by a flotation-centrifugation method. The overall prevalence was 52.4%, and the 11 species found were: Ancylostoma caninum (13%), Isospora ohioensis complex (12%), Toxocara canis (11%), Trichuris vulpis (10%), Sarcocystis sp. (10%), Giardia duodenalis (9%), lsospora canis (3%). Hammondia-Neospora complex (3%). Dipilydium caninium (18 cases), Cryptosporidium sp. (5 cases), and Toxascaris leonina (I case). There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence between genders (female = 50.4%, male = 54.6%). and breeds (pure = 52.3W mixed = 53%), but prevalence in puppies (< 1 year) was higher than in adult dogs (62.7% versus 40.8%. respectively). Only the prevalence of A. caninium differed between genders. with higher values for males. The prevalences of six of the parasite species showed a decreasing trend with increasing host age, and an inverse pattern was found for two other species. The prevalences of three protozoa were significantly higher in pure-breed dogs. and those of two nematodes were significantly higher in mixedbreed dogs. The prevalences of T canis. A. caninum, and T vulpis were spatially heterogeneous with a clear Southwest-Northeast gradient. Only prevalences of Sarcocystis sp. and G. duodenalis showed seasonal variation. The frequency distribution of the number of species per fecal sample did not differ from a random distribution. Results obtained throughout the world were discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.