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.

Four of 300 dogs (1.3%) tested positive for Trichuris vulpis ova on fecal flotation at the commercial reference laboratory, and 3 of the 4 dogs tested positive at the university laboratory. Two of these 4 dogs had diarrhea on the day of collection with no additional enteropathogens detected. One of 300 dogs (0.33%) tested positive for Toxocara canis ova at the university laboratory only, and that dog also had diarrhea on the day of collection with no additional enteropathogens detected. Two of 300 dogs (0.67%) tested positive for Ancylostoma caninum ova on fecal flotation at the commercial reference laboratory, and 1 of the 2 dogs tested positive at the university laboratory. None of the hookworm-infected dogs had diarrhea on the day of fecal collection. Cystoisospora oocysts were detected on fecal flotation in 8 dogs overall (2.7%), 5 of which were detected at the commercial reference laboratory, and 3 of which were detected at the university laboratory (only 1 of the 8 dogs had Cystoisospora oocysts detected at both laboratories). Three of the Cystoisospora-infected dogs had diarrhea on the day of collection. One of the diarrheic dogs infected with Cystoisospora oocysts was co-infected with circovirus, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia spp. The frequency of detection of hookworm ova, Cystoisospora oocysts, roundworm ova, or whipworm ova via fecal flotation was not significantly different between the university and commercial reference laboratories.