Prevalence of intestinal parasites detected in routine coproscopic methods in dogs and cats from the Masovian voivodeship in 2012-2015

The aim of the study was to analyse canine and feline infections with intestinal parasites basing on routine coproscopic tests. In total 5,809 results were analysed. Infections with Giardia intestinalis (6.93% – in dogs, 4.56% – in cats) and Toxocara spp. (4.07% – in dogs, 5.42% – in cats) were the most commonly noted. The majority of intestinal parasitic infections were identified more frequently in younger animals (under 1 year of age) as compared to older ones. This study showed the increase in the prevalence of coccidia (from 1% to 2.53%) and whipworms (from 2.6% to 3.07%) in dogs and a decrease in roundworm and hookworm related diseases in comparison to previous reports (years 1974-2002). The results showed changes in infection prevalence of both protozoan species (G. intestinalis and Cystoisospora spp.) both in dogs and cats, which suggests that climate conditions had an influence on the infection prevalence of the mentioned species. Moreover, the age of animals had an influence on the infection prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs. However, there was no influence of both dogs’ and cats’ sex on the average infection prevalence of investigated parasites.