Influence of selected factors on the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis in dogs and cats from central Poland

摘要

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis infection in dogs and cats from Mazovian Voivodeship depending on their species, sex, age and season of the year. From January 2016 to December 2017, five thousand two hundred and twenty-five faecal samples were examined by the coproscopical method. The mean prevalence rate for G. intestinalis was 8.3% in dogs and 5.8% in cats. Statistical differences in the rate of G. intestinalis infection depended on age. Lamblia infection was observed more frequently in younger animals (under 1 year of age) than in older ones. The prevalence of G. intestinalis in dogs was significantly higher in females (9.6%) compared with males (7.3%) (P = 0.015). Moreover, the influence of the season of sampling on the incidence of G. intestinalis invasion in dogs was noted at the border of significance (P= 0.053). In the case of cats, no significant relationship was found between the prevalence of infection and the species, sex or the season of sampling, although the infection occurred more often during autumn and winter than during spring and summer.