EVALUATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INFECTION BY Cryptosporidium spp. IN DOMICILED DOGS

Abstract The genus Cryptosporidium consists of protozoa with large reproduction and dissemination capacity. Transmission can occur indirectly by ingestion of water contaminated with viable oocysts or directly between animals, between humans, or between animals and human. In various parts of the world, pets have been cited as potential sources of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of natural Cryptosporidium spp. infection in domestic dogs in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, as well as the association of the infection with epidemiological and sanitary data. Stool samples from 97 dogs were analyzed using the techniques of centrifugal sedimentation in formalin-ether with subsequent staining by Kinyoun method. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test of Pearson and Fisher Exact test, with significance level of 5.0%. Positivity was detected in 31.9% (31/97) of samples. It was the first record of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs from northeastern Brazil. We verified significant association between the rate of infection and veterinary medical care, vaccination, and type of environment in which the dogs were kept.摘要 隐孢子虫属（Cryptosporidium）是一类繁殖与传播能力极强的原生动物。其传播途径可分为两类：间接传播为食入被具有感染力的卵囊污染的水源，直接传播则发生于动物之间、人类之间或动物与人类之间。全球多个地区的研究均已指出，宠物可作为隐孢子虫诸种（Cryptosporidium spp.）感染的潜在传染源。本研究旨在评估巴西伯南布哥州累西腓市家犬自然感染隐孢子虫诸种（Cryptosporidium spp.）的发生情况，并分析该感染与流行病学及卫生学相关数据的关联。本研究共收集97份犬粪便样本，采用福尔马林-乙醚离心沉淀法结合金胺-酚冷染色法（Kinyoun method）进行检测。统计学分析采用皮尔逊卡方检验与费希尔精确检验，显著性水平设定为5.0%。结果显示，31.9%（31/97）的样本呈阳性。本研究为巴西东北部地区犬感染隐孢子虫诸种的首次学术记录。经分析发现，犬的隐孢子虫感染率与兽医诊疗情况、疫苗接种情况以及饲养环境类型存在显著相关性。