Prevalence of spurious parasites identified in feces of dogs and correlation with true canine parasitism

Abstract

Spurious parasites are commonly found in canine feces as dogs often practice coprophagy, predation, and scavenging behaviors. Our main study objectives were to determine the prevalence and variety of spurious parasites identified in feces of client-owned dogs and a possible correlation between the prevalence of spurious and true parasites in dogs. Additionally, the prevalence of spurious parasites was statistically compared by age, sex, and reproductive status of dogs and regions. A total of 48,509 fecal examination results were retrieved from Zoetis Reference Laboratories in Louisville, Kentucky, from January 1 to December 31, 2023, and included for the study. The most frequently identified spurious parasite was Eimeria oocysts (4.14 %), followed by non-canine strongylid eggs (0.97 %), Anoplocephalidae eggs (0.33 %), Monocystis oocysts (0.27 %), free-living mites (0.13 %), avian ascarid eggs (0.12 %), free-living nematode eggs and larvae (0.08 %), Adelina and other spurious coccidian oocysts (0.06 %), spurious Capillaria eggs (0.05 %), spurious Trichuris eggs (0.04 %), Dipteran eggs and larvae (0.02 %), spurious lungworm larvae (0.02 %), Strongyloides eggs (0.01 %), Toxocara cati eggs (0.01 %), and Syngamus eggs (0.01 %). Dogs that excreted spurious parasites in feces showed a significantly higher risk for true canine parasitism (P < 0.0001), and synchronizing monthly differences were observed between the prevalence of spurious and true parasites (P = 0.0022). The prevalence of spurious parasite was influenced by age, sex, and reproductive status of dogs and regions. Frequent fecal examinations are recommended for dogs that shed spurious parasites in feces.