Abstract
Gastrointestinal parasites are common in pet animals, despite the
existence of therapeutic and prophylactic measures. Protozoa and
helminths are of great importance for Unique Health, mainly due to their
zoonotic potential. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of the
main gastrointestinal parasites in domestic dog puppies in the city of
Araçatuba, São Paulo. Thus, 100 fecal samples were collected from dogs
up to six months of age. The samples were processed using Willis and
Faust’s coproparasitological techniques and negative malachite green
staining. The statistical analysis consisted of descriptive analysis. In
addition, a general assessment of positivity between the techniques was
carried out, in which if the animal was positive in a test it was
considered positive in this criterion, due to each test being specific
to a type of gastrointestinal parasite. With the results obtained it was
possible to observe that animals that have age range less than or equal
to six months of age had a higher occurrence for Toxocara spp. Eggs, and
in some of theses animals it was possible to observe feces with normal
consistency. The positivity for the parasites, by at least one of the
techniques mentioned above, was: Toxocara spp. (34%); Isospora spp.
(28%); Ancylostoma spp. (22%); and, Giardia spp. (8%). Thus, we
concluded for the first time the occurrence of gastrointestinal
parasites in domestic dog puppies less than six months of age, with
detection of helminths and protozoa with zoonotic potential, being
Toxocara spp. most prevalent. Finally, in our study, we diagnosed
asymptomatic parasitized dogs, which may represent a risk in terms of
Unique Health. Keywords: Helminths, Protozoa, Unique Health, Dogs,
Diagnosis