title: [The incidence of internal parasites in dogs and cats as dependent on the level of awareness among owners].
abstract: The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of internal parasites in dogs and cats owned by the employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and by students and their families, as well as in pets presented to veterinary clinics and in animals from shelters. The study, conducted from January to May 2008, involved 135 dogs and 35 cats. Feces samples were analyzed for parasites by flotation technique with the use of Darling's solution, as described by Fülleborn. The highest percentage of parasite eggs was reported in feces samples collected from shelter dogs, including Toxocara and Toxascaris (9.1%), Uncinaria-Ancylostoma (12.1%) and Trichuris (12.1%), while in shelter cats the extensiveness of parasitic invasion was as follows: Toxocara cati--61.5%, Toxascaris--15.4%, Uncinaria-Ancylostoma--7.7%, Isospora spp.--7.7%. The lowest parasite incidence was observed among dogs and cats owned by veterinary students and members of their families. Of 20 examined animals, only one dog carried the eggs of Toxocara canis and one dog carried the eggs of Trichuris in their feces. Similar results were obtained in the group of pets owned by the employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: among 6 dogs and 13 cats examined in the study, Toxocara eggs were detected in one cat only (16.6%). In the group of pets presented to veterinary clinics, comprising 77 dogs and 8 cats, feces samples taken from 11 dogs contained the eggs of Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Uncinaria-Ancylostoma and Trichuris, while Isospora spp. oocysts were found in the stool of two cats.
authors.affiliation: Zespół Parazytologii i Chorób Inwazyjnych, Uniwerstytet Warmińsko-Mazurski, ul. Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalczyk
authors.forename: Rajmund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sokół
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D015994:Incidence; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology