Evidence of the Zoonotic Transmission of Cryptosporidium among Children and Pets.

We investigated the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium among the children (n = 188), dogs (n = 133), and cats (n = 55) living in 188 households. Fecal samples were examined using ELISA and confirmed via nested PCR. Coproantigens oocysts were detected in 3.7% of children, 8.3% of dogs, and 5.5% of cats. We found strong evidence of two cases of the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium canis between children and dogs. Furthermore, four children and their respective pets (one dog and three cats) were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, but we cannot exclude the hypotheses that the oocysts were transmitted from children to animals or that both hosts were infected by a shared source, such as contaminated water or food. The presence of an infected animal elevated the risk of zoonotic transmission by 129.7-fold (95% CI: 13.92-1209.68). Furthermore, sharing a bed with pets was identified as a risk factor for infection in children (OR: 9.9, 95% CI: 1.37-71.2). In conclusion, the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium among children and pets cohabiting in the same household may be quite common, especially when infected animals lie or sleep on children's beds. These findings unequivocally highlight the public health concern surrounding C. canis.

Coccidiose em cães e gatos do município de Andradina, estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Coccidiosisin dogs and cats at the Municipality of Andradina in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

A coccidiose é uma das mais frequentes enfermidades parasitárias em pequenos animais em todo o mundo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a ocorrência da infecção por Cystoisospora em cães e gatos no Município de Andradina, São Paulo. Durante os anos de 2007 a 2009, amostras fecais de 97 gatos e 93 cães foram processadas por meio das técnicas de flutuação em solução saturada de cloreto de sódio e sedimentação espontânea. As espécies foram identificadas por morfometria dos oocistos. Oocistos fecais de Cystoisospora foram encontrados em 71,1% (69/97) dos gatos, sendo que infecção simples por C. rivoltaou por C. felis ocorreu, respectivamente, em 41,0% (16/39) e em 20,5% (8/39) dos animais, com P≥0,2319. Em 39,7% (37/93) dos cães foi detectada positividade para Cystoisospora spp., sendo a espécie C. canis identificada na maior proporção (63,9%) com P=0,0005. A partir dos resultados obtidos, nós concluímos que cães e gatos tiveram elevada ocorrência de infecção por Cystoisospora, sendo C. canis e C. rivolta as espécies mais observadas, respectivamente.

Coccidiosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases in dogs and cats in all the world. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of this parasitosis in dog and cat population at the Municipality of Andradina in the State of São Paulo, from 2007 to 2009. Fecal samples from 97 cats and 93 dogs were analyzed by using the techniques of flotation in saturated sodium chloride and spontaneous sedimentation. The species were classified according to morphology of the oocysts. Cystoisospora fecal oocyst found in 71.1% (69/97) of the cats, and simple infection by C. rivolta and C. felis occurred respectively in 41.0% (16/39) and 20.5% (8/39) animals, with P ≥ 0.2319. In 39.7%(37/93) of the dogs was found positive for Cystoisospora spp. And the species C. canis identified in the largest proportion (63.9%) with P = 0.0005. From the results, we conclude that dogs and cats had high incidence of infection Cystoisospora, being C. canis and C. rivolta most observed species, respectively.

Occurrence of Ancylostoma in dogs, cats and public places from Andradina city, São Paulo state, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and intensity of Ancylostoma spp. in 33 dogs and 52 cats by means of coproparasitological examinations and parasitological necropsy, and assess the presence of contaminated feces with eggs of that parasite in public places of Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Willis-Mollay and Sedimentation methods indicated Ancylostoma spp. eggs in 87.8% (29/33) dogs and 94.2% (49/52) cats. The species A. caninum and A. braziliense were found in 63.6% (21/33) and 30.3% (10/33) of dogs, respectively. Considering cats, 67.3% (35/52) were parasitized by A. braziliense, 21.1% (11/52) by A. caninum, and 9.6% (5/52) by A. tubaeforme. Forty-two canine fecal samples were collected from public environments, including 23 squares/gardens and 19 streets/sidewalks. Positive samples for Ancylostoma spp. accounted for 64.3% (27/42); squares/gardens had 60.9% (14/23) positive samples, and streets and sidewalks, 68.4% (13/19). No association was observed between the number of Ancylostoma spp parasites and age, sex and breed of the animals and also the ratio of EPG counts and the parasitic intensity observed at necropsy (p > 0.05). Based on the high occurrence of hookworm in dogs and cats in this study, the treatment with anti helminthics are needed even in those animals with negative stool tests, besides adopting control of the number of animals in public places, in order to decrease the likelihood of environmental contamination, since this parasite represents a potential hazard to human and animal health.

Occurrence of Ancylostoma in dogs, cats and public places from Andradina city, São Paulo state, Brazil / Ocorrência de Ancylostoma em cães, gatos e locais públicos da cidade de Andradina, São Paulo, Brasil

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and intensity of Ancylostoma spp. in 33 dogs and 52 cats by means of coproparasitological examinations and parasitological necropsy, and assess the presence of contaminated feces with eggs of that parasite in public places of Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Willis-Mollay and Sedimentation methods indicated Ancylostoma spp. eggs in 87.8 percent (29/33) dogs and 94.2 percent (49/52) cats. The species A. caninum and A. braziliense were found in 63.6 percent (21/33) and 30.3 percent (10/33) of dogs, respectively. Considering cats, 67.3 percent (35/52) were parasitized by A. braziliense, 21.1 percent (11/52) by A. caninum, and 9.6 percent (5/52) by A. tubaeforme. Forty-two canine fecal samples were collected from public environments, including 23 squares/gardens and 19 streets/sidewalks. Positive samples for Ancylostoma spp. accounted for 64.3 percent (27/42); squares/gardens had 60.9 percent (14/23) positive samples, and streets and sidewalks, 68.4 percent (13/19). No association was observed between the number of Ancylostoma spp parasites and age, sex and breed of the animals and also the ratio of EPG counts and the parasitic intensity observed at necropsy (p > 0.05). Based on the high occurrence of hookworm in dogs and cats in this study, the treatment with anti helminthics are needed even in those animals with negative stool tests, besides adopting control of the number of animals in public places, in order to decrease the likelihood of environmental contamination, since this parasite represents a potential hazard to human and animal health.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a freqüência e intensidade parasitária de Ancylostoma spp. em 33 cães e 52 gatos por meio de exames coproparasitológicos e pela necropsia parasitológica, bem como avaliar a presença de fezes contaminadas com ovos deste parasito em locais públicos do município de Andradina/SP. Por meio das técnicas de Willis-Mollay e Sedimentação, ovos de Ancylostoma spp. foram observados em 87,9 por cento (29/33) e 94,2 por cento (49/52) dos cães e gatos, respectivamente. As espécies constatadas nos cães foram A. caninum em 63,6 por cento (21/33) e A. braziliense em 30,3 por cento (10/33). Dos gatos, 67,3 por cento (35/52) estavam parasitados por A. braziliense, 21,1 por cento (11/52) por A. caninum e 9,6 por cento (5/52) por A. tubaeforme. Foram coletadas 42 amostras fecais caninas do ambiente público sendo, 23 de praças/jardins e 19 de ruas/calçadas. Positividade para Ancylostoma spp. foi observada em 64,3 por cento (27/42) destas fezes sendo 60,9 por cento (14/23) provenientes de praças/jardins e 68,4 por cento (13/19) de ruas e calçadas. Não foi observada associação entre a presença do parasito e a idade, sexo e raça dos animais, bem como entre o número de parasitos observado na necropsia e o OPG (p > 0.05). Baseado na alta ocorrência de ancilostomídeos em cães e gatos neste estudo, o tratamento com anti-helmínticos faz-se necessário, mesmo nos animais com exames de fezes negativos, além da necessidade de adoção de controle do número de animais em locais públicos, a fim de diminuir a probabilidade de contaminação do meio ambiente, uma vez que este parasito representa um perigo potencial à saúde humana e animal.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. infections and risk factors for cats from Brazil.

The seroprevalence of infection by Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. was detected through an indirect immunofluorescence in 70 cats from the Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Anti-T. gondii antibodies (titer >64) were detected in 15.7% (11/70) of animals, whereas positivity for N. caninum (titer 16) was not observed in any animal. Of the cats from urban and rural areas, 10.4% (5/48) and 27.2% (6/22) were positive for T. gondii, respectively. Breed, age, food, and contact with animals of other species were significant for considering the positivity for T. gondii (P ≤ 0.0001). Cats having access to streets (17.1%, 11/64), cats cohabiting with rats (19.6%, 10/51), and cats feeding on homemade food and raw milk (27.2%, 6/22) were positive for T. gondii. In addition, 4.2% (3/70) of the cats were positive for Leishmania spp. by ELISA technique and negative by IFAT without coinfection with T. gondii and Leishmania spp. There was no serological positivity against feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus. In conclusion, T. gondii infection in part of the feline population from Andradina is not linked to immunosuppressions or coinfections but probably to postnatal infection in association with the type of diet and presence of rats.