TY - JOUR AU - La Torre, Francesco AU - Di Cesare, Angela AU - Simonato, Giulia AU - Cassini, Rudi AU - Traversa, Donato AU - Frangipane di Regalbono, Antonio PY - 2018/08/31 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Prevalence of zoonotic helminths in Italian house dogs JF - The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries JA - J Infect Dev Ctries VL - 12 IS - 08 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.3855/jidc.9865 UR - https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/31958330 SP - 666-672 AB - <p>Introduction: Dogs may act as potential sources of zoonotic parasites, e.g. intestinal helminths like <em>Toxocara</em> spp., <em>Ancylostoma </em>spp., <em>Echinococcus</em> spp. In particular circumstances, the environment contaminated by parasitic elements represents a source of infection for people and animals. The present study has evaluated the presence of zoonotic helminths in house dogs from central and north-eastern Italy.</p><p>Methodology: Stool samples from 493 dogs were examined by a qualitative copromicroscopic technique and differences in prevalence of zoonotic parasites were statistically examined in relation to canine individual data.</p><p>Results: 48/493 (9.7%) were positive for at least one parasite. Helminths recovered were <em>Trichuris vulpis</em> (5.5%), <em>Toxocara canis </em>(4.3%), <em>Ancylostoma</em> spp. (0.6%) and <em>Eucoleus aerophilus </em>(0.4%), while no cestodes were detected. Age and living with other dogs resulted risk factors for <em>T. canis</em> infection.</p><p>Conclusions: The health risk associated with the occurrence of parasitic nematodes in privately owned dogs, along with the current anthelmintic treatment plans, are discussed.</p> ER -