Occurrence of Ancylostoma in dogs, cats and public places from Andradina city, São Paulo state, Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and intensity of Ancylostoma spp. in 33 dogs and 52 cats by means of coproparasitological examinations and parasitological necropsy, and assess the presence of contaminated feces with eggs of that parasite in public places of Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Willis-Mollay and Sedimentation methods indicated Ancylostoma spp. eggs in 87.8% (29/33) dogs and 94.2% (49/52) cats. The species A. caninum and A. braziliense were found in 63.6% (21/33) and 30.3% (10/33) of dogs, respectively. Considering cats, 67.3% (35/52) were parasitized by A. braziliense, 21.1% (11/52) by A. caninum, and 9.6% (5/52) by A. tubaeforme. Forty-two canine fecal samples were collected from public environments, including 23 squares/gardens and 19 streets/sidewalks. Positive samples for Ancylostoma spp. accounted for 64.3% (27/42); squares/gardens had 60.9% (14/23) positive samples, and streets and sidewalks, 68.4% (13/19). No association was observed between the number of Ancylostoma spp parasites and age, sex and breed of the animals and also the ratio of EPG counts and the parasitic intensity observed at necropsy (p > 0.05). Based on the high occurrence of hookworm in dogs and cats in this study, the treatment with anti helminthics are needed even in those animals with negative stool tests, besides adopting control of the number of animals in public places, in order to decrease the likelihood of environmental contamination, since this parasite represents a potential hazard to human and animal health

Human ocular sparganosis in southern Brazil

We report the first case of human ocular sparganosis in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. A young female patient presented with three periocular moveable inflammatory masses in her right eye, during two years. By surgical excisional biopsy, a helminth larval stage was removed and identified as sparganum. Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological data on this parasite are presented

Freqüência de helmintos em gatos de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais Frequency of helminthes parasites in cats of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

<abstract language="eng">Necropsies in 50 cats, males and females of different ages were performed from August 2000 to December 2001. Forty five (90%) of them had parasites. Eleven cats (22%) had single infection, 34 (75.6%) multiple infection, and only 5 (10%) were free of infection. The parasitic frequencies were as follow: Platynosomum fastosum (40%), Ancylostoma braziliensis (38%), Physaloptera praeputialis (34%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (18%), Dipylidium caninum (14%), Ancylostoma caninum (14%), Toxocara mistax (14%), Toxocara canis (10%), Trichuris campanula (6%), Toxascaris leonina (4%), Spirometra mansonoides (4%), Taenia taeniaeformis (4%) e Trichuris vulpis (2%)

Freqüência de parasitos gastrintestinais em cães e gatos atendidos em hospital-escola veterinário da cidade de São Paulo Frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and cats referred to a veterinary school hospital in the city of São Paulo

<abstract language="eng">Fecal samples from 1755 dogs and 327 cats were examined for the presence of helminths and protozoan forms. From the total samples, 486 (27.7%) dogs and 103 (31.5%) cats presented at least one parasite. The main genus of parasite in dogs were Ancylostoma (12.7%), Giardia (8.5%), Cystoisosopora (4.4%), Toxocara (2.6%), and Cryptosporidium (2.4%). The ocurrence of Ancylostoma was associated to male dogs, older than one year, while Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cystoisospora and Toxocara were associated to dogs younger than one year (P<0.05). Among cats, the most frequent parasites were Cryptosporidium (11.3%), Giardia (8.3%), Cystoisosopora (8.3%), Toxocara (6.1%), and Ancylostoma (2.1%). Cryptosporidium and Cystoisosopora were more prevalent in cats younger than one year (P < 0.05)