Indidences of internal parasites in dogs and cats in an animal shelter

Studies were carried out on 181 dogs and 97 cats in an animal shelter between 2001-2003. Faeces was taken from both cages and pens and examined in the laboratory using the Fulleborn method. Dogs were mainly infected by Toxocara canis invasion (14.3-66.6%), and, to a lesser extent, by nematodes from the Ancylostomatidae family (7.1-41.9%), Trichuris vulpis (0-8.1%) and Dipylidium caninum tapeworms (0-10.8%). The intensity of invasion varied - the maximum amount of eggs was found in dog faeces in 2001 (I.i.=6-625 epg). Cats were infected by internal parasites to a greater extent than dogs - for example in 2001 cats the infection rate of Toxocara cati worm was 60.6%, nematodes from Ancylostomatidae family was 40% and the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm was over 6%. Between 2002 and 2003 both helminthes and oocysts of Cystoisospora spp were determined in the cats. It was ascertained that male cats were more strongly infected with Toxocara cati worm than females, and, furthermore, that males were also infected by invasions of Cystoisospora spp.