Prevalence of Giardia antigen in stool samples from dogs and cats

A total number of 153 faecal samples (105 from dogs and 48 from cats) were examined for the presence of Giardia infection by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (ProspecT(R) Giardia Rapid Assay). Infection rates were significantly (p<0.05) higher in dogs (19.04%) than in cats (4.16%), in female (28%) than in male (10.90%) dogs, and in winter (29.54%) than in the spring/summer period (11.47%). Though not significant, the prevalence of giardiasis was also found to be higher in owned (19.67%) than in refuge dogs (18.18%), in less than or equal to3 year-old dogs (33.07%) than in older ones (7.40%), and in symptomatic (37.50%) than in asymptomatic dogs (17.52%). These data demonstrate that Giardia is more widespread than had been previously thought in Italy. It is also concluded that dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats may serve as potential animal reservoirs in urban areas.