title: Parasite prevalence in fecal samples from shelter dogs and cats across the Canadian provinces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Canada, surveys of enteric parasites in dogs and cats have been reported sporadically over the past 40 years, mostly focusing on a specific region. The present work was performed to determine the current prevalence of various parasites in fecal samples from shelter dogs and cats across the Canadian provinces.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1086 dog and 636 cat fecal samples from 26 shelters were analysed using a sugar solution double centrifugal flotation technique. Prevalences (national, regional, provincial, age and parasite-specific), were calculated and compared using the Fisher-Exact test. A multiplex PCR was performed to distinguish Taenia spp, Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis on samples positive for taeniid eggs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 33.9% of dogs and 31.8% of cats were positive for at least one parasite. Toxocara canis and T. cati were the most prevalent parasite present in fecal samples followed by Cystoisospora spp. Prevalence in dogs was similar across the Atlantic, East, West and Pacific regions, while prevalence in cats varied regionally. Eggs of E. granulosus/E. canadensis were detected in samples from dogs from BC, AB, and ON.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study will help in the development of strategies, based on the level of risk per geographic location for the prevention and response to these parasites in pets and free-roaming and shelter animals in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, 3200 Sicotte, C.P. 5000, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada. alain.villeneuve@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.affiliation: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada. lrp537@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Lydden
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polley
authors.affiliation: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada. ejj266@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada. jms656@mail.usask.ca.
authors.forename: Janna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schurer
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1 N4, Canada. jsgillea@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilleard
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1 N4, Canada. skutz@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.affiliation: Atlantic Veterinary College, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 4P3, Canada. conboy@upei.ca.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conboy
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc, 2000 Argentia Road, Suite 400, Plaza 3, Mississauga, ON, L5N 1 V9, Canada. benoit_donald@elanco.com.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Inc, Clinical Development, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. wolfgang.seewald@novartis.com.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seewald
authors.affiliation: Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc, 2000 Argentia Road, Suite 400, Plaza 3, Mississauga, ON, L5N 1 V9, Canada. france.gagne@novartis.com.
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gagné
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*