title: Epidemiological scenario of giardiosis in dogs from central Italy.
abstract: In order to update and implement the data on the epidemiological situation of giardiosis in the Italian arena, stool samples from 240 dogs living in the Abruzzo region (central Italy) were examined for prevalence, risk factors, and genotypes. Giardia duodenalis cysts were detected in 26.6% of the dogs and kennel dogs tested. Dogs younger than 12 months (38%) and with diarrhea (46%) were statistically more affected. Species-specific G. duodenalis assemblages (C and D) were identified in kennel and in privately owned dogs, while the zoonotic assemblage A was identified in privately owned dogs. In light of these results, giardiosis in dogs, and mainly in well-cared dogs, is still a problem of concern and may pose a public health risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Comparative Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy. bpaoletti@unite.it
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Gioia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Olivier A E
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Sparagano
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology