The prevalence of intestinal parasites of domestic cats and dogs in Vladivostok, Russia during 2014–2017

The prevalence of intestinal parasites was determined in 144 dogs and 135 cats in Vladivostok, Russia during four years of study. Association between general animal characteristics, such as age and sex, and infections was investigated. The parasitological examination of faecal samples from the dogs and cats was performed by means of the flotation technique using saturated zinc sulfate solution and sedimentation technique. Intestinal parasites were found in 32 (22.1%) of the 144 dogs studied. In total, six different intestinal parasites were identified: Ancylostoma caninum in ten dogs (6.9%), Cystoisospora sp. in seven dogs (4.9%), Uncinaria stenocephala in four dogs (2.8%), Taenia sp. in two dogs (1.3%), Toxocara canis in three dogs (2.1%) and Dipylidium caninum in six dogs (4.2%). Intestinal parasites were found in 25 (18.5%) of the 135 cats studied. In total, six different intestinal parasites were identified: Cystoisospora sp. in eight cats (13.5%), D. caninum in three cats (2.2%), Opisthorchiidae eggs in four cats (2.9%), T. cati in three cats (2.2%), T. leonina in five cats (3.7%), and U. stenocephala in two cats (1.5%). Binary logistic regression analyses showed the absence of a relationship between parasite prevalence and animal characteristics and between prevalence and season.