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The following study on the spread of zoonotic endoparasites and
the infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii on stray dogs and cats
in the Taipei city vicinity took place from May of 1995 to
March of 1996. Our data for testing zoonotic endoparasites
consisted of 96 stray dogs and 95 stray cats. To test the
infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii, we used three separate
groups of sera samples, 100 each numbeaing for man, stray dogs,
and stray cats. In addition, we conducted autopsy for worms
detection, the fecal flotation method to detect ovium,
protozoa, and worms, all of which are not visible by the naked
eyes. Through these methods, we found that 89.6% of stray dogs
were infected with endoparasites. These endoparasites can be
broken down in the following: 53% of Ancylostoma caninum, 45%
of Dirofilaria immitis, 27% of Toxocara canis, 1% of Toxocaris
leonina, 1% of Strongyloides stercoralis, 52% of Dipylidium
caninum, 1% of Dipyllobothrium latum, and 1% of Isospora canis.
For stray cats, we found that 82.1% of stray cats were infected
with endoparasites. Like the endoparasites found in stray
dogs, the endoparasites in stray cats can also be broken down
in the following: 44% of Ancylostoma tubaeforme, 42% of
Toxocara cati, 27% of Dipylidium caninum, 4% of Difofilaria
immitis, 2% of Strongyloides stercoralis, 2% of Capillaria
spp., 5% of Taenia pisiformis, 3% of Dipyllobothrium mansoni,
1% of Dipyllobothrium latum, 6% of Isospora bigemina, and 3% of
Isopspora rivolta. And finally, the results of Toxoplasma
serological prevalence investigation were the following: 7% of
humans IgG positive, 7% of stray dogs IgG positive, 1% of IgM
positive, 43% of stray cats IgG positive, and 12% of IgM
positive. Thus, as our study shows stray dogs and cats in the
Taipeii city could be carriers of infectious diseases, and as a
result, baneful to public health.
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