Retrospective Seasonal Parasitological Survey on Prevalence and Epidemiological Determinants of Ectoparasitic Infestations in Dogs and Cats of Damietta, Egypt
Retrospective Seasonal Parasitological Survey on Prevalence and Epidemiological Determinants of Ectoparasitic Infestations in Dogs and Cats of Damietta, Egypt
Eman M. Aboelela1, Mohamed A. Sobieh2, Eman M. Abouelhassan3, Doaa S. Farid4, Essam S. Soliman2*
ABSTRACT
Animal owners should be well-trained to deal with the potential that arises from the lack of all the purposive biosecurity measures planned to meet all the demands of dogs and cats. The study aimed to conduct a seasonal cross-sectional survey on the point prevalence (PP) of ectoparasitic infestations in dogs and cats concerning some host, agent, and environmental determinants. A cross-sectional study was designed to last for four successive seasons from September 21st, 2020 to September 20th, 2021. A total of 1393 cats and 1511 dogs were admitted and examined for parasitic infestations. PPinfestations revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) increases during fall and spring and fall in dogs and cats respectively; at < 1-year dogs and cats during all seasons; and during winter in males and spring in female dogs, summer in males, and winter in female cats. PPinfestations revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) increases in German dogs and Persian cats in the four seasons; during fall in black and Tan dogs and spring in white-coated cats; and during summer in the single and fall in the multiple housing system of dogs and during summer in the single and spring in the multiple housing system of cats. Highly significant (P < 0.01) increases during spring, spring, winter, winter, and spring seasons in dogs and spring, spring and summer, spring, and fall seasons in cats consumed dry, cooked, raw, canned, and mixed food respectively. Species-specific PPinfestations revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) increases in fleas during spring, ticks during summer, skin mites, and lice during fall in dogs, fleas during spring, and ear mites during the fall season in cats. Parasitological examinations identified Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, Ctenocephalides canis flea, Heterodoxus spiniger lice, and Sarcoptic scabiei mites in dogs, Otodectes cynotis ear mites, and Ctenocephalides felis flea in cats. Prevalence of parasitic infestations in dogs and cats showed strong associations with the breed, sex, age, coat color, housing system and pattern, type of food, and type of infesting external parasites concerning seasonal variations.
Keywords | Cross-sectional, Dogs, External parasites, Prevalence, Seasonal
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August 2022
Vol. 10, Iss. 8, Pages 1659-1886
