Comparative clinical epidemiology of toxocariosis in dogs and cats

Toxocariosis is a parasitic zoonosis and has worldwide distribution affecting dogs and cats. this retrospective study describes the comparative clinical epidemiology of toxocariosis in dogs and cats according to feeding pattern,sex,age and different seasons in and around lahore. a total of 1874 fecal samples consisting of 1203 dogs (64.19%) and 671 cats (35.80%) were examined through fecal floatation technique,a total of 270 dogs (22.44%) and 198 cats (29.50%) were found positive to t. canis and t cati,respectively. the significant incidence of toxocara was recorded in cats (p = 0.0007) as compared to dogs. the study revealed that toxocara incidence is high in uncontrolled fed population (p = 0.0001),more in young puppies (p = 0.000) and kittens (p = 0.014),and sex dependent (p = 0.000) with higher percentage in queens (45.70) and male dogs (49.46). season wise,a significant difference in both dogs (p = 0.0000) and cats (p = 0. 001) was observed with higher prevalence in summer (32.93%,40.1%) followed by spring (20.95%,28%),autumn (23.46%,23.94%) and winter (15.16%,21.96%).copyright 2010 zoological society of pakistan.