Species composition and age dynamics of the spread of intestinal protozoa in domestic dogs and cats in the city of Moscow

The purpose of the research is to study the spread of intestinal protozoa in dogs and cats in the territory of Moscow.

Materials and methods. In 2020–2022, 3,411 fecal samples were analyzed: 2212 from dogs, including 994 samples from puppies, and 1199 samples from cats, including 465 from kittens. All animals included in the experiment were kept at home. The feces were examined by native microscopy and the flotation method using a zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) solution with a density of 1.24 g/cm3.

Results and discussion. The results of the study showed that the most common in dogs are Giardia duodenalis – 9.27% (205 positive samples out of 2212), Sarcocystis sp. – 3.8% (84/2212), less frequently recorded Cystoisospora sp. – 2.58% (57/2212), Cryptosporidium sp. – 2.49% (55/2212), Cystoisospora canis – 1.13% (25/2212), Sarcocystidae gen. sp. – 0.3% (7/2212), family Trichomonadidae – 0.27% (6/2212). In 15.5% of cases, intestinal protozoan diseases in the form of monoinfection were registered in dogs. Among mixed infections, the most frequently recorded were G. duodenalis and C. canis – 0.5% (10/2212) and G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. – 0.3% (7/2212). In cats, the prevalence rates of protozoan infection were: Giardia duodenalis 5.5% (66/1199), Cryptosporidium sp. – 4.17% (50/1199), fam. Trichomonadidae – 2.67% (32/1199), Cystoisospora felis – 1.33% (16/1199), Sarcocystis sp. – 0.42% (5/1199), Cystoisospora rivolta – 0.25% (3/1199), Sarcocystidae gen. sp. 0.17% (2/1199). In cats, the most common combinations of two protozoan species were: G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. – 0.5% (6/1199), G. duodenalis and fam. Trichomonadidae – 0.4% (5/1199). With the age of the animal, both cats and dogs experience a decrease in infection with G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp., cats also experience a decrease in infection with C. felis, and dogs experience a decrease in infection with protozoa of the fam. Trichomonadidae, C. canis and Cystoisospora sp.

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