Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Cats and Dogs on Intake to Northern Mississippi Shelters

Dallas E. Riley; W. Cooper Brookshire; Phil A. Bushby; T. Graham Rosser; Jake M. Shivley

doi:10.56771/jsmcah.v5.160

Authors

Dallas E. Riley Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6703-6566
W. Cooper Brookshire Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS, USA
Phil A. Bushby Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS, USA
T. Graham Rosser Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS, USA
Jake M. Shivley Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Starkville, MS, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56771/jsmcah.v5.160

Keywords:

Parasite, parasites, cat, dog, canine, feline, shelter, intake, pyrantel, strongid

Abstract

Animal shelters frequently administer multiple anthelminthic therapies for gastrointestinal parasites to animals on intake, but superfluous use of anthelmintics may contribute to resistance over time. Literature results for gastrointestinal parasite prevalence vary by region. This study’s objective was to evaluate parasite prevalence in animals upon intake to Mississippi shelters and determine risk factors for parasitism. Fecal samples were obtained from cats and dogs and examined via passive floatation. Presence or absence of common parasite eggs was found along with descriptive characteristics of the animal. Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression (SAS9.4) was performed to test for associations (alpha = 0.05). Prevalence for overall parasitism in cats and dogs was 48% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.9%–57.2%) and 74% (95% CI: 69.6%–77.3%), respectively. Age and intake type were found to have significant associations with parasitism in cats (P = 0.027, P = 0.015). Age and sex were observed to have significant associations with parasitism in dogs (P = 0.035, P ≤ 0.0001). These findings suggest implications for targeted empirical anthelmintic therapy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1.

Empirical Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster. Accessed Feb 26, 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empirical

2.

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians. The Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters: Second Edition. JSMCAH. 2022;1(S1):1–76. doi: 10.56771/ASVguidelines.2022

3.

Blagburn B, Lindsay D, Vaughan J, et al. Prevalence of Canine Parasites Based on Fecal Floatation. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 1996;18(5):483–509.

4.

Hoggard KR, Jarriel DM, Bevelock TJ, Verocai GG. Prevalence Survey of Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Parasites of Shelter Cats in Northeastern Georgia, USA. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2019;16:100270. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100270

5.

Little SE, Johnson EM, Lewis D, et al. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Pet Dogs in the United States. Vet Parasitol. 2009;166(1–2):144–152. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.07.044

6.

Mohamed AS, Moore GE, Glickman LT. Prevalence of Intestinal Nematode Parasitism Among Pet Dogs in the United States (2003–2006). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234(5):631–637. doi: 10.2460/javma.234.5.631

7.

Campanale D, Walden H, Garcia L, Crawford C, Hernandez J. Zoonotic and Non-Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites in Shelter Dogs at Admission and Before. JSMCAH. 2023;2(1). doi: 10.56771/jsmcah.v2.9

8.

CAPC Parasite Prevalence Maps. Companion Animal Parasite Council. 2023. Accessed Feb 26, 2024. https://capcvet.org/

9.

Hookworms. Companion Animal Parasite Council. March 2023. Accessed Feb 26, 2024. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/hookworms/

10.

Ascarid. Companion Animal Parasite Council. September 2022. Accessed Feb 26, 2024. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/ascarid/

11.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epi Info 7 (Version 7.2.5). [Computer software]. 2008. Atlanta, GA, USA. https://cdc.gov/epiinfo/.

12.

Dentistry – Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Accessed Jul 30, 2025. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-8-dentistry/

13.

Aging Puppies by Teeth. Published online July 2023. Accessed Jul 30, 2025. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ac-aid-aging-puppies-by-teeth.pdf

14.

Broussard JD. Optimal Fecal Assessment. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract. 2003;18(4):218–230. doi: 10.1016/S1096-2867(03)00076-8

15.

Zajac AM, Conboy GA. Veterinary Clinical Parasitology. 8th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012.

16.

Bowman DD, Fogarty EA. Parasitology: Diagnostics in Dogs and Cats. The Gloyd Group; 2003, St. Louis, Missouri, USA: Nestle Purina Petcare Company.

17.

Bowman DD, ed. Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021.

18.

Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Excel [Computer software]. 2018. Redmond, WA. https://office.microsoft.com/excel.

19.

SAS Institute Inc. Statistical Analysis Software (Version 9.4) [Computer software]. 2013. Cary, NC, USA. https://sas.com/en_us/software/stat.html.

20.

Grigg EK, Kogan LR. Owners’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home. Animals. 2019;9(11):978. doi: 10.3390/ani9110978

21.

Raza A, Rand J, Qamar AG, Jabbar A, Kopp S. Gastrointestinal Parasites in Shelter Dogs: Occurrence, Pathology, Treatment and Risk to Shelter Workers. Animals (Basel). 2018;8(7):108. doi: 10.3390/ani8070108