GI parasite in D

Parasites of the gastrointestinal tractof Dogs and Cats : 

Parasites of the gastrointestinal tractof Dogs and Cats 1 By: Saeideh Mozafari

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Giardia: Giardia is protozoan small intestinal parasite that infects many mammals including man. It probably is a zoonotic. distribution is worldwide. Young puppies & cats under one year of age and in multi-cat environments are most often affected. 20% to 40% of shelter dogs (can be 100% of dogs in kennel and breeding colonies) Transmission: Ingestion of cysts passed in feces The most common cause of transmission is actually waterborne, as the parasite prefers the cool and moist environment. Clinical Signs: Can be asymptomatic, intermittent or chronic Diarrhea often containing mucus is most common presenting sign Signs usually occur 1-2 weeks after infection and often the disease goes unnoticed or is self limiting after a bout of diarrhea. Most cases that show signs are mild with minimal depression. Young cats and kittens are most severely affected, and they may be dehydrated, lethargic, and suffer from loss of appetite. In some cases, dogs will exhibit diarrhea that is soft, frothy, greasy, and with a strong, awful odor or excessive mucus. 2

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Diagnosis: Cyst in feces or detection of coproantigen Treatment: Metronidazole: 25 mg/kg, every 24 h for 5 days , PO Fenbendazole: 50 mg/kg, every 24 h for 5 days , PO Prescription drugs along with bathing are combined to reduce the likelihood of repeat infection and to remove the parasite from the dog's body. Repeat fecal exams are often required to confirm that the infection has been removed, as an ongoing (chronic) infection can be debilitating for the animal. Prevention: Provide clean water, bathe to remove adherent fecal debris Environmental control is also very important, especially in multi-cat environments, where bleach is the disinfectant of choice. Public health: In most cases,human become infected with human species of isolateds of Giardia. Because dogs may also be infected with human strains, strict adherence to personal hygience prevents infection of animal workers. 4

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Coccidiosis : Eimeria (oocyst contain 4 sporocysts, each with 2 sporozoites) and Isospora (contain 2 sporocysts, each with 4 sporozoites) are the 2 most common coccidia of the dogs & cats. These protozoan parasites primarily inhabit the small intestine Transmission: ingestion of contaminated feces or food Clinical Signs: Kittens & puppies are most likely to show signs of watery diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus) Adult usually display significant immunity Diagnosis: Oocysts in feces 5

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Treatment: Sulfadimethoxine, amprolium, ponazuril at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks (These drugs stop the growth of coccidia and then the host’s immune system responds to rid the intestine of the parasite.) Prevention: Remove feces promptly (oocysts require time to sporulate) Usually good steam cleaning of kennels will eliminate the infestation of the environment. When the environment is difficult to control, coccidiastats can be added in the feed or water for late stage pregnant bitches or young pups 3-6 weeks of age Public health: Coccidia of the dog are not a zoonotic threat. 6

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Cryptosporidium spp. : The organism infects small intestine of man, cats and dogs. Oocysts of cryptosporidium canis contain 4 sporozoites and are infectious when passed. It’s distribution is worldwide. Puppies are primarily at risk Transmission : Ingestion of oocysts passed in feces Clinical Signs: Disease is usually asymptomatic or self limiting. voluminous watery diarrhea that varies with the severity of the organism and the health of the host Puppies are most likely to show signs. Immunocompromised dogs are at severe risk. Diagnosis: Oocysts in feces (suger flotation method) or fecal antigen detection 7

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Treatment: No treatment is available for eliminating the organism. Treatment is primarily symptomatic to combat fluid loss Dogs with chronic infections have been treated with Paramomycin with various levels of success using a similar dosage regmien as that described for cats : 165 mg/kg, per os, for 5 days Nitazoxanide, Azithromycin Prevention: Prevent exposure to oocysts in feces or in the environment Public health: Cryptosporidium does not infect immunologically competent people. Infection may occur in children or in adults with immune deficiency. Thus, animal workers should practice exellent hygiene when working with potentially infected dogs. 8

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Neospora caninum : Oocysts of Neospora caninum contain 2 sporocysts, each with 8 sporozoites. Hosts: Dogs: definitive host Goats, Deer, Horses, Cattle, and Other: intermediate hosts Transmission : Ingestion of intermediate host containing bradyzoites (tissue cyst form) Prenatal (transplacental) Pathologic effects: Nonsuppurative meningoencephalomylitis, myositis, myocarditis, hepatitis, dermatitis, and pneumonia Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic intestinal infection Progressive paralysis, which is more severe in hind limbs. Signs include hind limb hyperextension, difficulty swallowing, jaw paralysis, muscle flaccidity, muscle atrophy, and heart failure. Skin lesions present as patchy dermatitis with exudative skin pustules. 9

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Diagnosis: Oocysts in feces Typical signs of N. caninum ; induced paralysis Serological tests (to distinguish the organism from other causes of neurological disease) Treatment: A combination of trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, and pyrimethamine Cutaneous neosporosis: clindamycin Prevention: Avoiding the feeding of uncooked meat Cleanliness Public health: Not infectious to human 11

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Diphyllobothrium latum : It is uncommon except in remote areas of the northern US and Canada where dogs, humans and wildlife may come in contact. The final host in addition to the dog is primarily man, but it also exists in the cat, fox, and bear. The worm enters the final host by ingesting raw or under cooked trout, pike, fresh water salmon and perch Transmission : Ingestion of fish containing plerocercoid larvae Clinical Signs: asymptomatic, but in man can produce severe anemia Diagnosis: Eggs in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus or Droncit at elevated dosages Prevention: Prevent ingestion of freshwater fish Public health: infected dogs are not a direct hazard to human 12

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Dipylidium caninum : Tapeworms are parasites of the small intestine that typically cause few signs of illness in an infected dog & cat . The flea is the intermediate host. Transmission : Ingestion of flea containing cysticercoid Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic. Occasionally, heavy infection result in weakness, emaciation, vomiting, diarrhea, increased appetite, convulsions Diagnosis: Segments or egg packets in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus, Droncit, Cestex, Niclosamide Prevention: Control fleas Public health: infection is uncommon in man and occur by accidental ingestion of an infected flea or louse. 13

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Echinococcus granulosus : Echinococcus granulosus occurs in the small intestine of dog and wild canids. Sylvatic cycle in canids and moose in Canada and Alaska Domestic cycle in dogs and sheep on some Native American reservations in western US Transmission : Ingestion of sheep or moose liver or lung containing unilocular hydatid Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic Diagnosis: Recognition of small worms or gravid segments in feces Eggs in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus Prevention: Drontal Plus monthly 14

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Public health: Accidental ingestion of echinicoccus granulosus eggs from dog feces causes echinococusis, or hydatid diseases, in man. This is a potentially life-threatening disease. Animal workers shoud be informed of the possible hazard and instructed in proper personal hygiene. 15

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Echinococcus multilocularis : Common in wildlife, especially foxes; can move into canine populations and become quite common. Southern Canada through Alaska; extreme north central US Transmission : Ingestion of rodent intermediate host containing multilocular hydatid Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic Diagnosis: Recognition of small worms or gravid segments in feces, Eggs in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus , Droncit Prevention: Effective cestocide administered every 3weeks 16

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Public health: The zoonotic threat comes from the ingestion of fruit, food or water, contaminated by the feces of the fox, cat or sled dog. The increase in camping has exposed more humans and their pets to the potential of Echinococcus. Once the eggs of Echinococcus are ingested by man they form a large cyst in the liver. The only treatment is surgical removal. Unfortunately, the prognosis is guarded because the cyst itself is very fragile and can rupture with manipulation resulting in death. 17

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Taenia pisiformis : Fairly common, Occur in the small intestine of dogs and foxes Transmission : Ingestion of cottontails containing cystercerci or rodent intermediate host Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic, poor body condition Heavy infections may cause abdominal discomfort and enteritis Diagnosis: Eggs or segment in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel), Droncit, Cestex and Panacur Prevention: Prevent dogs from preying on rabbits & rodents 18

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Taenia serialis : Occur in the small intestine of dogs and foxes Lagomorph (rabbit) serve as natural intermediate host Transmission : Ingestion of cottontails containing cystercerci or rodent intermediate host Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic, poor body condition Heavy infections may cause abdominal discomfort and enteritis Diagnosis: Eggs or segment in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus, Droncit, Cestex and Panacur Prevention: Prevent dogs from preying on rabbits & rodents Public health: Human may develop coenuri if infected. Thus, feces from infected dogs should be handled with caution, and laboratory personal should be instructed proper personal hygiene. 19

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Taenia taenia formis : Occur in the small intestine of feline Rodent : intermediate host Transmission : Ingestion of cottontails containing cystercerci or rodent intermediate host Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic, poor body condition Heavy infections may cause abdominal discomfort and enteritis Diagnosis:Eggs or segment in feces Treatment: Drontal Plus, Droncit, Cestex and Panacur Prevention: Prevent catss from preying on rodents 20

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Taenia ovis - a canine tapeworm whose larval form (cysticercus ovis) is carried in the muscles and hearts of sheep Taenia hydatigena - a canine tapeworm whose larval form (cysticercus teniocolis) is carried in liver and obdominal cavity by sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, deer and wild livestock ungulates Taenia multiceps - a canid (dog and dog-related species) tapeworm whose larval form (coenurus cerebralis) is generally carried in the brains of sheep and goats (occasionally horses, rabbits and cattle) Clinical Signs: Asymptomatic, poor body condition Heavy infections may cause abdominal discomfort and enteritis Treatment: Drontal Plus, Droncit, Cestex and Panacur 22

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Strongyloides stercoralis : Relatively common in kennels, otherwise often undiagnosed Host: dogs and humans (small intestine) Transmission : Larvae develop in soil and penetrate skin; transmammary also Clinical Signs: Diarrhea and potential for systemic strongyloidiasis when severely immunocompromised Diagnosis: Recover larvae in feces Treatment: Ivermectin 200 µg/kg once or 200 µg/kg weekly for 4 weeks Thiabendazole 25 mg/kg for 3 days Prevention: Treat all animals in household or on premises Remove feces daily & food and water be kept free of contamination Public health: Strongyloides stercoralis is pathogenic for human. Animal care personnel should be made aware of this hazard and instructed proper personal hygiene and safe methods of handling infected animals and excrement. 23

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Toxocara canis : One of the most common canine small intestine parasites Definitive Host: Dogs, Puppies less than 5 weeks Accidental Host: Humans & other mammals Transmission : Dogs infected by ingesting embryonated eggs, or paratenic hosts, or by transplacental migration of larvae into fetal puppies, transmammary also Pathologic effect: Light infection: mild petechial haemorrhage Heavy infection: pneumonia, mucoid enteritis, intesinal impaction, granulomatous lesions in tissues 24

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Clinical Signs: Only observed in young dogs Early signs: coughing and nasal discharge after about 3 weeks. Causes abdominal distension (pot bellied), intermittent diarrhea, dull haircoat, occasional vomiting, reduced growth rate, debilitation, foul oral odor, allergic pruritis Intestinal blockage, intestinal perforation, anemia are relatively rare Diagnosis: Eggs in feces, worms in intestine, granulomatous lesions in tissues. Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, milbemycine oxime, dichlorvos, febantel and piperazine Pregnant bitch: ivermectin, doramectin Prevention: Cleaning the environment of feces, Bitches treated with ivermectin before, during and after pregnancy. Public health: TC does have a serious zoonotic threat when larval migration enters vital tissue of man, in particular the eye (OLM). Children are at the greatest risk because they tend to put their fingers into their mouth without proper hygiene (VLM). 25

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Toxocara leonina : Definitive Host: wild and domestic canines and felines Paratenic hosts: rodents and other mammals Transmission : by ingesting embryonated eggs, or paratenic hosts Pathologic effect & Clinical Signs: Causes little pathology in dogs, thus they typically don’t develop clinical signs Diagnosis: Eggs in feces, worms in feces Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, milbemycine oxime Prevention: Remove feces, good sanitation, treatment of infected dogs and cats, exclusion of paratenic hosts Public health: Animal workers should exercise personal hygiene when working with infected dogs and cats 26

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Toxocara cati : The most common intestinal parasite of the cat Transmission : eating an paratenic host, such as mice, birds, or insects Kittens may acquire roundworms during nursing from an infected queen (less than 3 weeks) , transmammary also Clinical Signs: Only observed in kittens Early signs: coughing Diarrhea, vomiting (sometimes with worms in the vomitus), swollen abdomen, and failure to growth, pneumonia Diagnosis: finding the adult worms in vomitus, or by finding the eggs on a fecal examination 27

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Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, febantel and piperazine Prevention: Remove feces, good sanitation, treatment of infected cats, exclusion of paratenic hosts Public health: In humans, they can cause a disease called larva migrans. This disease occurs when larvae of one of various parasites migrate into the deep tissues of the human body (OLM). Children can become infected by accidental ingestion of eggs from contaminated environments (VLM). If a heavy infestation occurs, severe disease in the eye, lung or liver requiring treatment can occur. 28

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Ancylostoma caninum : Found throughout range of dogs in US and Canada Most common in small intestine of dogs in warmer climates Transmission : Larvae develop in soil and infect dogs by skin penetration; can use mammalian intermediate hosts Transmammary transmission Eating an paratenic host Clinical Signs: Hemorrhagic enteritis (dysentery), anemia In pups: mucosal pallor, diarrhea, weakness, emaciation, dull dry hair coat, and death Diagnosis: Anemia associated with eggs in feces Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, milbemycine oxime 29

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In more severe cases pyrantel pamoate, intravenous therapy, blood transfusions, and good nutritional support are very important. Reduce infections of pups: treatment bitch with ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin 5 to 6 days before whelping Prevention: Discretionary deworming, routine preventives given monthly, preventing fecal contamination of environment Public health: Hookworm is a zoonotic. Skin penetration of infective larvae penetrates the bare foot of man and causes mostly a self limiting local skin irritation for three weeks (CLM). Animal care personnel should be made aware of this hazard and instructed proper personal hygiene and safe methods of handling infected animals and excrement. 30

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Ancylostoma braziliense : common in small intestine of dogs & cats in Coastal southeastern US, Caribbean Transmission : Larvae develop in soil and penetrate the skin – can use mammalian intermediate hosts; transmammary transmission, Eating an paratenic host Clinical Signs: Hemorrhagic enteritis, anemia In pups & kittens: mucosal pallor, diarrhea, weakness, emaciation, dull dry hair coat Diagnosis: Anemia associated with eggs in feces Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, milbemycine oxime In more severe cases pyrantel pamoate, intravenous therapy, blood transfusions, and good nutritional support are very important. Prevention: Routine preventives given monthly; prevent fecal contamination Public health: This species is the common cause of cutaneous larva migrans in humans. Animal care personnel should be instructed proper personal hygiene and safe methods of handling infected animals and excrement. 31

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Ancylostoma tubaeforme: Most common in small intestine of cats Transmission : Ingestion of feces, which contain infective larvae Larvae develop in soil and penetrate the skin Eating an paratenic host Clinical Signs: Kittens are most severely affected: Diarrhea with dark or bloody stools, vomiting, weight loss, weakness and anemia Adults: The infection can be asymptomatic Chronic cases can develop significant anemia 32

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Diagnosis: Anemia associated with eggs in feces Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, febantel and piperazine Prevention: Discretionary deworming, routine preventives given monthly, preventing fecal contamination of environment, exclusion of paratenic hosts Public health: This parasite is not considered to be a cause of cutaneous larva migrance in humans. 33

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Uncinaria stenocephala : Occur in the small intestine of dogs, cats, and foxes Focal: usually cooler regions of US Transmission : Larvae develop in soil; oral infection is the most common route of entry into the host percutaneous infection – can use mammalian intermediate hosts Clinical Signs: The infection can be asymptomatic Chronic cases can appears anemia Local dermatitis Diagnosis: Anemia (less common than with A. caninum) and eggs in feces 34

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Treatment: Pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole Prevention: Routine preventives given monthly, preventing fecal contamination of environment Public health: Skin penetration of infective larvae penetrates the bare foot of man (CLM). Animal care personnel should be made aware of this hazard and instructed proper personal hygiene and safe methods of handling infected animals and excrement. 35

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36 Trichuris vulpis : Occur in the large bowel and cecum of dogs, cats, foxes Transmission : Dogs are infected by ingesting eggs which have embryonated in environment Clinical Signs: Only observed in heavily infected dogs Colitis, mild to severe diarrhea that sometimes contains blood, anemia, weight loss, abdominal pain Diagnosis: eggs in feces Treatment: Febantel, fenbendazole for 3-5 days and repeated in 3 weeks, milbemycine oxime Prevention: preventing fecal contamination of environment Eggs very resistant to environment (sunlight & concentrated saline solutions are lethal to unhatched larvae. ) Public health: T. vulpis does not infect humans

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Thank you for your attention 37