Prevalence of selected zoonotic and vector-borne agents in dogs and cats in Costa Rica

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.06.025

Veterinary Parasitology

Volume 183, Issues 1–2, 29 December 2011, Pages 178-183

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.06.025 Get rights and content

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of enteric parasites and selected vector-borne agents of dogs and cats in San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica, fecal and serum samples were collected from animals voluntarily undergoing sterilization. Each fecal sample was examined for parasites by microscopic examination after fecal flotation and for Giardia and Cryptosporidium using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Giardia and Cryptosporidium IFA positive samples were genotyped after PCR amplification of specific DNA if possible. The seroprevalence rates for the vector-borne agents (Dirofilaria immitis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) were estimated based on results from a commercially available ELISA. Enteric parasites were detected in samples from 75% of the dogs; Ancylostoma caninum, Trichuris vulpis, Giardia, and Toxocara canis were detected. Of the cats, 67.5% harbored Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Ancylostoma tubaeforme, or Toxocara cati. Both Cryptosporidium spp. isolates that could be sequenced were Cryptosporidium parvum (one dog isolate and one cat isolate). Of the Giardia spp. isolates that were successfully sequenced, the 2 cat isolates were assemblage A and the 2 dog isolates were assemblage D. D. immitis antigen and E. canis antibodies were identified in 2.3% and 3.5% of the serum samples, respectively. The prevalence of enteric zoonotic parasites in San Isidro de El General in Costa Rica is high in companion animals and this information should be used to mitigate public health risks.

Introduction

There are more than 150 zoonoses, some of which are harbored by companion animals (Robertson and Thompson, 2002, Traub et al., 2002). Several parasites that are present in the feces of dogs and cats can cause serious public health concerns. For example, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, and Baylisascaris procynosis can induce visceral or ocular larva migrans. Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Uncinaria stenocephala and Strongyloides stercoralis can induce cutaneous or visceral larva migrans. The common enteric protozoans Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. can also be zoonotic.

Previous studies reported enteric zoonotic agents in humans, animals and the environment in Costa Rica. Studies performed on samples from humans during 1960–1977 found that over 95% of those studied harbored intestinal parasites; Trichuris (73%), Ascaris (42%), Entamoeba histolytica (41%), hookworms (33%) and Giardia (22%) were common in one historical study (Botero, 1981). Dog or cat feces could have been the source of some of these infections. Toxocara spp. and A. caninum eggs have been found in dog fecal and environmental samples (sand and grass) in all geographical regions of Costa Rica that have been studied (Vargas and Contreras, 1998, Paquet-Durand et al., 2007). Additionally, previous studies have shown Toxocara spp. antibody prevalence rates are high in humans with suspected larva migrans (Paquet-Durand et al., 2007).

Dogs and cats can harbor both host-specific and zoonotic genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (Monis and Thompson, 2003). Cryptosporidium oocysts were reported in water, contaminated fruits and vegetables, and feces of humans and calves in Costa Rica (Luna et al., 2002, Calvo et al., 2004, Gutierrez et al., 1997, Pérez et al., 1998). However, to our knowledge, no studies have been published reporting Cryptosporidium oocysts in feces of dogs and cats in Costa Rica. While Giardia cysts were detected in the feces of children and dogs in Costa Rica, none of the studies genotyped the Giardia isolates and the potential for dogs and cats to harbor zoonotic assemblages is unknown in this country (Aguilar et al., 1988).

Vector-borne infections, including Dirofilaria immitis, have been detected in humans and dogs in Costa Rica (Beaver et al., 1986, Sancho, 1989, Rodriguez, 2002, Rodriguez, 2003). Additionally, dogs with clinical signs of ehrlichiosis are common in Costa Rica with the first case being reported in 1995 (Menses, 1995). Ehrlichia canis is thought to be the most common Ehrlichia spp. in the region and this tick borne agent is also potentially zoonotic (Menses, 1995, Sambri et al., 2004, Labruna et al., 2007). The presence of other rickettsial diseases, particularly Brazilian spotted fever (BSF; Rocky Mountain spotted fever) has also been reported in Costa Rica (Fuentes, 1986). However, to our knowledge, Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum seroprevalence rates in dogs of Costa Rica are unknown.

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of enteric parasites in dogs and cats and the seroprevalence rates of the vector-borne agents D. immitis, B. burgdorferi, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum in the dogs of San Isidro de El General, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Section snippets

Study area

Fecal and serum samples were collected from dogs and cats that resided in San Isidro de El General, which is the capital city of Perez Zeledon County in San Jose province and the second largest city in Costa Rica. Pérez Zeledón covers an area of 1905.51 km² and it has a population of 130,982 inhabitants (Wikipedia). The ecological map of Costa Rica comprises 12 life zones following the World Life Zone System by Holdridge (Paquet-Durand et al., 2007). These 12 regions can be grouped into three

Results

Fecal flotation was performed on samples collected from 60 dogs and 9 cats; adequate feces for IFA testing were available for 58 dogs and 7 cats. The overall prevalence rates for enteric parasites in dogs and cats were 75% and 66.7%, respectively (Table 1). In dogs, Ancylostoma caninum was most prevalent, followed by Trichuris vulpis, Giardia spp., and T. canis. Adult dogs were more likely than puppies to harbor T. vulpis (Table 2). In cats, Giardia spp., A. tubaeforme, Cryptosporidium spp. and

Discussion

Results of this study prove that the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in companion animals of San Isidro de El General in Costa Rica is very high. It is unknown whether any of the dogs or cats had been administered antihelmintics, which may have lessened the prevalence rates for the nematodes but this was considered unlikely. Worldwide, there is significant variation in the prevalence of intestinal parasites with ranges between 26% and 85% (Papazahariadou et al., 2007, Eguia-Aguilar et

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Pedro Boscan, Dr. Adrian Solano, Mariam Corrales, Dr. Alejandro Acevedo, Rosaura Barrantes, Dr. Roberto Carranza, Dr. Lora Ballweber, Juliette Hart and Suzie Friedman. IDEXX Laboratories, Portland ME, donated the SNAP 4DX kits used in the study. Other funding was provided by the Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University (http://csuvets.colostate.edu/companion/index.htm).

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Short communicationPrevalence of selected zoonotic and vector-borne agents in dogs and cats in Costa Rica

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Study area

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgments

Vet. Parasitol.

Trends Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Trends Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Infect. Genet. Evol.

Int. J. Parasitol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Acta Trop.

Trends Parasitol.

Prev. Vet. Med.

Int. J. Parasitol.

Infect. Gen. Evol.

Vet. Parasitol.

Microbes Infect.

Vet. Parasitol.

Acta Trop.

Prevalence of coccidia and Giardia sp. in dogs in Costa Rica

Cienc. Vet. Costa Rica

Determinación de la resistencia de la garrapata Boophilus

Cienc. Vet. (Heredia)

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among domestic cats in the Tokyo metropolitan district

Jpn. J. Med. Biol.

Dirofilaria from the index finger of a man in Costa Rica

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.

Prevalence of Giardia antigen in stool samples from dogs and cats

Revue Med. Vet.

Pathogens that cause travelers’ diarrhea in Latin America and Africa

Rev. Infect. Dis.

Persistence of the endemic intestinal parasitoses in Latin America

Bull. Pan. Am. Health Organ.

Short communication
Prevalence of selected zoonotic and vector-borne agents in dogs and cats in Costa Rica