title: Prevalence and risk factors for Giardia spp. infection in a large national sample of pet dogs visiting veterinary hospitals in the United States (2003-2009).
abstract: Estimates of the prevalence of intestinal infection of dogs with Giardia spp. in the United States vary widely. Risk factors for infection in a large sample of dogs over an extended period of time have not been well characterized. A national, electronic database of medical records was used to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors for Giardia spp. infection among dogs visiting Banfield Pet Hospital™ located in 43 states in the United States. The overall prevalence of Giardia spp. Infection was 0.44% (95% CI: 0.43-0.45%) in approximately 2.5 million owned dogs who had a fecal flotation test performed from January 2003 to December 2009. A steady decrease in annual prevalence was observed, from a high of 0.61% in 2003 to 0.27% in 2009. Seasonal increases in prevalence were noted during the winter and summer months. Giardia spp. prevalence was highest in the Mountain region, especially Colorado (2.63%; 95% CI: 2.53-2.73%), and in puppies ≤0.5 year of age (0.63%; 95% CI: 0.61-0.64%). It was lowest for dogs of mixed breeding compared with pure breeds. Infection risk was 25-30% greater in sexually intact dogs compared to spayed and neutered dogs.
authors: Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA.
authors: Ahmed S
authors: AS
authors: Mohamed
authors: Larry T
authors: LT
authors: Glickman
authors: Joseph W
authors: JW
authors: Camp
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Lund
authors: George E
authors: GE
authors: Moore
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology