title: A study of the prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis infecting kennelled dogs.
abstract: Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan parasite of animals that is zoonotic. Given the capacity of this organism to spread via the faecal-oral route, animals held in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions are at high risk of infection. Faecal samples from dogs in three kennels in Rome were examined by microscopy and PCR for G. duodenalis, and the prevalence data generated were correlated with variables such as kennel identity, age of dog, length of time the dog had been kennelled and clinical signs. The overall prevalence of the parasite in the faecal samples was 20.5% and was higher in samples from the largest kennel, which had the greatest turnover of dogs, and in faecal samples from younger animals. Giardia cysts were found more frequently in diarrhoeic animals but were also found in dogs with no clinical signs. Although the finding that the majority of isolates were dog-specific rather than zoonotic genotypes suggests that the zoonotic risk from this pathogen is less than previously thought, the higher prevalence of infection in younger dogs may pose a specific public health issue as such animals are more frequently re-homed with families.
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Scaramozzino
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Di Cave
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Berrilli
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: D'Orazi
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Spaziani
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Mazzanti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Scholl
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: De Liberato
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005838:Genotype; D005872:Giardia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004247:DNA