Prevalence of Enteropathogens in Dogs Attending 3 Regional Dog Parks in Northern California

Hascall, K.L.; Kass, P.H.; Saksen, J.; Ahlmann, A.; Scorza, A.V.; Lappin, M.R.; Marks, S.L.

Fecal centrifugation flotations were performed on all samples at the University's Parasitology Laboratory. Fresh feces were examined for parasite ova, cysts, and oocysts by use of a zinc sulfate double centrifugation flotation technique as previously described. 11 In addition, the parasitologist evaluated the entire slide in a grid pattern evaluating approximately 50 random high-power fields (hpf) to determine the average number of cysts, oocysts, or ova per hpf. A direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test for detection of Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts was also performed at the university laboratory according to the manufacturer's instructions. d Direct fluorescent antibody testing was only performed on 51 fecal specimens with discordant results for Giardia and Cryptosporidium (ie, PCR positive at the reference laboratory and fecal flotation negative at the reference laboratory or university laboratory or vice versa). A specimen was considered positive for either protozoa if 1 or more (oo)cysts were observed. Positive slides were further ranked by number of (oo)cysts per slide: 1+ (1-9 (oo)cysts), 2+ (10 to 50 (oo)cysts), and 3+ (>50 (oo)cysts).