Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean: a review and study from St. Kitts, West Indies.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence of Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean. In view of the number of owned free-roaming and feral dogs within the islands and the ideal subtropical climate for parasite development and environmental survival, Ancylostoma could pose a threat to the health of the dogs as well as a zoonotic risk to people. METHODS: To determine whether generalities about Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean could be made and to obtain a better understanding of the prevalence, published (Scielo, Scopus, and PubMed databases) and gray (e.g., student theses, conference presentations) literature was reviewed. Retrieved manuscripts were screened, and relevant data (year, location, dog population, method of diagnosis, positivity rate) were extracted. Data from two dog populations on St. Kitts also were included: a 2014 field study involving dogs with limited veterinary care and data from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Clinic records for 2018-2019. RESULTS: Fourteen manuscripts from the 1950s to 2019, representing ten of the Caribbean islands/countries and the Bahamas, were identified. Methods of diagnosing infection status ranged from simple qualitative or quantitative flotation methods to centrifugation with Sheather's sugar flotation solution or necropsy. Dog populations sampled included stray, owned free-roaming, and owned confined. Reported rates of Ancylostoma infection ranged from 10 to 91%. Studies from the last 10 years indicate positivity rates of 21 to 73%. Ancylostoma positivity rates in the St. Kitts' populations were 61% and 10% for the 2014 and 2018-2019 populations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was no indication that hookworm prevalence has changed over time in the Caribbean, and there were no obvious differences between owned and unowned dogs or free-roaming and confined dogs. The data from St. Kitts were on par with positivity rates from the other islands within the last 10 years and reflective of the impact that veterinary care, including anthelmintic treatment, is expected to have on parasites in pets. There is a clear need to expand the available data for the region and improve control programs for Ancylostoma infections to protect both canine and human health.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in domestic dogs and cats in the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: A review.

Toxocara prevalence ranges from 0 to >87% and 0 to >60% in dogs and cats, respectively, within the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Higher prevalence occurs in animals less than 1 year of age. Overall, prevalence is higher in cats compared to dogs. The lowest prevalence occurs in the US owned dog population. Specific populations in this industrialized nation, in animal shelters or resource-limited locations, have prevalences similar to those seen in populations from other regions reviewed here. Conversely, subpopulations in Central America and the Caribbean have very low prevalence. Apparent contributors to prevalence, excluding animal age and climate, are socio-economic factors, attitudes towards pet management and animal population density. The lack of data from some regions pose a challenge in assessing trends; however, with the exception of the US owned dog population, there is no strong indication of any decrease in prevalence from historical levels.

Morphological differentiation of eggs of Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and Ancylostoma braziliense from dogs and cats in the United States.

The establishment of cat- and dog-derived laboratory strains of Ancylostoma braziliense allowed for a morphological comparison of the eggs of A. braziliense, Ancylostoma caninum, and Ancylostoma tubaeforme. The length, width, and perimeter were determined for images of 10 eggs each of A. braziliense from the feces of a dog infected with a canine isolate and a cat infected with a feline isolate, A. caninum from dog feces, and A. tubaeforme from cat feces. The specific identity of the eggs was verified by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism by using HinfI and RsaI restriction digests followed by gel electrophoresis and sequencing. The mean (±SD) length, width, and perimeter and the length-to-width ratio (±SD) (all measurements are in micrometers) for the eggs of each species were as follows: A. braziliense eggs (combined cat and dog source), 53.03 ± 2.33, 36.37 ± 1.35, 140.43 ± 2.56, and 1.46 ± 0.11; A. caninum eggs, 63.92 ± 5.28, 39.21 ± 1.52, 161.99 ± 9.30, and 1.63 ± 0.13; and A. tubaeforme eggs, 61.44 ± 3.05, 39.14 ± 1.40, 157.98 ± 5.81, and 1.57 ± 0.08. The eggs of A. braziliense were significantly (P < 0.001) smaller than the eggs of A. caninum and A. tubaeforme in all dimensions. Thus, the eggs seem to be readily distinguishable using light microscopy, thereby aiding in species identification in fecal samples for a more comprehensive clinical picture and assessment of zoonotic risk.