Substrate type and age are risk factors for gastrointestinal parasitism in greyhound kennels
Abstract
The control of parasitic infections is particularly challenging in environments that are conducive to the maintenance of parasite lifecycles, such as the greyhound kennel, where the long-term breeding and rearing of dogs is common. The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites within the Australian greyhound population has never previously been assessed, which seriously constrains the implementation of effective control measures. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for GI parasites in Australian greyhounds, identify parasites which may be detrimental to the health and performance of dogs, and evaluate the likelihood of zoonotic transmission to kennel staff. Faecal samples were collected from 721 individual greyhounds situated in kennels across five states of Australia; Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Animal husbandry and current parasite control protocols were obtained from each kennel and analysed in conjunction with the detected level of parasitism. Overall parasite prevalence was approximately 60%, ranging from 50 to 70% between states. Eleven parasite genera were identified, with Sarcocystis, hookworm, Giardia and Toxocara detected most frequently. Generalised linear mixed model analyses found the major risk factors associated with parasitism were: a) the type of substrate which dogs were housed; b) age of dogs; and c) geographic region. Parasitism was associated most frequently with young dogs housed on grass/sand substrates, which allowed parasite lifecycles to continue, with constant reinfection the likely outcome. Routine treatment with broad-spectrum anthelmintics did not provide effective control in these environments and the adoption of alternate parasite control strategies is recommended. A substantial risk from zoonotic parasites was also identified, with six of the eleven parasite genera detected considered to be zoonotic and a poor understanding of zoonotic transmission among kennel managers.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A. caninum is the most prevalent parasitic nematode in racing greyhounds.
“Ancylostoma caninum is the most prevalent parasitic nematode in racing greyhounds [50, 51]”
From Multiple drug resistance in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum: an emerging threat? (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
Cites
R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing
R Core Team (2000) · doi:10.32614/r.manuals · Cited by 355,706 · see citing works
Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using <b>lme4</b>
Bates, D., Mächler, M., Bolker, B., & Walker, S. (2015) · Journal of Statistical Software · doi:10.18637/jss.v067.i01 · Cited by 86,835 · see citing works
Bartoń, K. (2010) · CRAN: Contributed Packages · doi:10.32614/cran.package.mumin · Cited by 4,829 · see citing works
Regulation and Stability of Host-Parasite Population Interactions: I. Regulatory Processes
Anderson, R. M., & May, R. M. (1978) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.2307/3933 · Cited by 1,788 · see citing works
QUANTIFYING PARASITES IN SAMPLES OF HOSTS
Rózsa, L., Reiczigel, J., & Majoros, G. (2000) · Journal of Parasitology · doi:10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0228:qpisoh]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 1,228 · see citing works
Newly recognized fatal protozoan disease of dogs
Dubey, J. P., Carpenter, J. L., Speer, C. A., Topper, M. J., & Uggla, A. (1988) · Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · doi:10.2460/javma.1988.192.09.1269 · Cited by 828 · see citing works
Drug resistance in veterinary helminths
Wolstenholme, A. J., Fairweather, I., Prichard, R., von Samson-Himmelstjerna, G., & Sangster, N. C. (2004) · Trends in Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.pt.2004.07.010 · Cited by 813 · see citing works
Regulation and Stability of Host-Parasite Population Interactions: II. Destabilizing Processes
May, R. M., & Anderson, R. M. (1978) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.2307/3934 · Cited by 692 · see citing works
CHRONIC EOSINOPHILIA DUE TO VISCERAL LARVA MIGRANS
Beaver, P. C., Snyder, C. H., Carrera, G. M., Jh, D., & LAFFERTY, J. W. (1952) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.9.1.7 · Cited by 397 · see citing works
Trachsel, D., Deplazes, P., & Mathis, A. (2007) · Parasitology · doi:10.1017/s0031182007002235 · Cited by 381 · see citing works
Hookworms of dogs and cats as agents of cutaneous larva migrans
Bowman, D. D., Montgomery, S. P., Zajac, A. M., Eberhard, M. L., & Kazacos, K. R. (2010) · Trends in Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.005 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
Nematode parasites of domestic animals and of man
Levine, N. D. (1980) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Australian dingoes are definitive hosts of Neospora caninum
King, J. S., Šlapeta, J. R., Jenkins, D., Al-Qassab, S. E., Ellis, J., & Windsor, P. A. (2010) · International Journal for Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.01.008 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Enteric parasitic zoonoses of domesticated dogs and cats
Robertson, I. D., & Thompson, R. C. (2002) · Microbes and Infection · doi:10.1016/s1286-4579(02)01607-6 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
National study of the gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and cats in Australia
Palmer, C. S., Thompson, R. C. A., Traub, R. J., Rees, R. L., & Robertson, I. (2007) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.015 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Gastrointestinal Parasites of Urban Dogs in Perth, Western Australia
BUGG, R. J., Robertson, I., Elliot, A., & THOMPSON, R. C. A. (1999) · The Veterinary Journal · doi:10.1053/tvjl.1998.0327 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Vaccination Against the Canine Hookworm Diseases
Miller, T. A. (1971) · Advances in Parasitology · doi:10.1016/s0065-308x(08)60161-x · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Traversa, D. (2011) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/1756-3305-4-32 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Mechanisms of epithelial dysfunction in giardiasis
Buret, A. G. (2007) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.2006.107771 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Traub, R. J., Inpankaew, T., Sutthikornchai, C., Sukthana, Y., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2008) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.05.001 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Ascarid Infections of Cats and Dogs
Parsons, J. C. (1987) · Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(87)50004-3 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
High-level pyrantel resistance in the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum
Kopp, S. R., Kotze, A. C., McCarthy, J. S., & Coleman, G. T. (2007) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.036 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Palmer, C. S., Traub, R. J., Robertson, I. D., Hobbs, R. P., Elliot, A., While, L., Rees, R., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2007) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.12.018 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Giardia in symptomatic dogs and cats in Europe—Results of a European study
Epe, C., Rehkter, G., Schnieder, T., Lorentzen, L., & Kreienbrock, L. (2010) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.06.015 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Trichuris vulpis Recovered from a Patient with Chronic Diarrhea and Five Dogs
Dunn, J. J., Columbus, S. T., Aldeen, W. E., Davis, M., & Carroll, K. C. (2002) · Journal of Clinical Microbiology · doi:10.1128/jcm.40.7.2703-2704.2002 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Krecek, R. C., & Waller, P. J. (2006) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.04.018 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Improved staining method for detecting Clyptosporidium oocysts in stools using malachite green.
Elliot, A. D., Ryan, U. M., & Thompson, R. C. A. (1999) · The Journal of General and Applied Microbiology · doi:10.2323/jgam.45.139 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Burke, T. M., & Roberson, E. L. (1985) · International Journal for Parasitology · doi:10.1016/0020-7519(85)90104-3 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Waller, P. J. (2003) · Animal Health Research Reviews · doi:10.1079/ahrr200350 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Nematode Parasites of Domestic Animals and Man
Chitwood, M. B., Kates, K. C., & Levine, N. D. (1969) · Journal of Parasitology · doi:10.2307/3277180 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Prevalence and survival of Toxocara canis eggs in the urban environment of Perth, Australia
Dunsmore, J. D., Thompson, R. C. A., & Bates, I. A. (1984) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/0304-4017(84)90048-7 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Paquet-Durand, I., Hernández, J., Dolz, G., Zúñiga, J. J. R., Schnieder, T., & Epe, C. (2007) · Acta Tropica · doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2007.06.011 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Prevalence of Toxocara canis ova in public playgrounds in the Dublin area of Ireland
O’Lorcain, P. P. (1994) · Journal of Helminthology · doi:10.1017/s0022149x00014401 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Intestinal Trauma Resulting from Feeding Activities of Ancylostoma Caninum
Kalkofen, U. P. (1974) · American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1974.23.1046 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Ash, A. L., Okello, A. L., Khamlome, B., Inthavong, P., Allen, J., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2015) · Acta Tropica · doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.05.018 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationTowards sustainable nematode parasite control of livestock
Waller, P. J. (1993) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/0304-4017(93)90164-i · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Recovery of nematode eggs and larvae in deer: Evaluation of fecal preservation methods
Foreyt, W. J. (1986) · Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · doi:10.2460/javma.1986.189.09.1065 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Carroll, S. M., & Grove, D. I. (1984) · The Journal of Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1093/infdis/150.2.284 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Dillon, A. R., Tillson, D. M., Hathcock, J. T., Brawner, B., Wooldridge, A. A., Cattley, R. C., Welles, B., Barney, S., Lee‐Fowler, T. M., Botzman, L., et al. (2013) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.045 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Cacciò, S. M., Beck, R., ALMEIDA, A. A., Bajer, A., & Pozio, E. (2010) · Parasitology · doi:10.1017/s003118200999179x · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Hayden, D. W., & Kruiningen, H. J. V. (1975) · American Journal of Veterinary Research · doi:10.2460/ajvr.1975.36.11.1605 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Overgaauw, P. A. M., & Boersema, J. H. (1998) · Veterinary Quarterly · doi:10.1080/01652176.1998.9694827 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Chandrawathani, P., Omar, J., & Waller, P. J. (1998) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/s0304-4017(97)00170-2 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Prospects for Integration of Novel Parasite Control Options into Grazing Systems
Barger, I. A. (1996) · International Journal for Parasitology · doi:10.1016/0020-7519(96)00084-7 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Helminth infections of British dogs: Prevalence in racing greyhounds
Jacobs, D. E., & Prole, J. H. B. (1976) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/0304-4017(76)90040-6 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Beveridge, I. (2002) · PubMed · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Molecular epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis in an endangered carnivore – The African painted dog
Ash, A. L., Lymbery, A. J., Lemon, J., Vitali, S. D., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2010) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.08.034 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationEpidemiology and control of helminth parasites in Greyhound breeding farms
Ridley, R. K., Dryden, M. W., Gabbert, N. H., & Schoning, P. R. (1994) · Compendium on Continuing Education for The Practicing Veterinarian · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Seasonal Influence on Human Enteric Infection by Ancylostoma caninum
Croese, J. (1995) · American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1995.53.158 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Miller, T. A. (1966) · Journal of Parasitology · doi:10.2307/3276522 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Zoonotic Hookworm Infections (Ancylostomosis)
Prociv, P. (1998) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192623805.003.0061 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
The association of selected climatic factors with natural alimentary parasites of the dog
Becker, S. V., Selby, L. A., Hutcheson, D. P., & Hacker, D. V. (1977) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/0013-9351(77)90075-5 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Soulsby, E. J. L. (1983) · British Veterinary Journal · doi:10.1016/s0007-1935(17)30331-7 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Ash, A. L., Elliot, A. D., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2015) · Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports · doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.02.002 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 55 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Multiple drug resistance in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum: an emerging threat?
Jimenez Castro, P. D., Howell, S. B., Schaefer, J. J., Avramenko, R. W., Gilleard, J. S., & Kaplan, R. M. (2019) · Parasites & Vectors · doi:10.1186/s13071-019-3828-6 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Molecular epidemiology of giardiasis from a veterinary perspective
Ryan, U. M., & Zahedi, A. (2019) · Advances in Parasitology/Advances in parasitology · doi:10.1016/bs.apar.2019.07.002 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Multiple drug resistance in hookworms infecting greyhound dogs in the USA
Castro, P. D. J., Venkatesan, A., Redman, E., Chen, R., Malatesta, A., Huff, H., Salazar, D. A. Z., Avramenko, R. W., Gilleard, J. S., & Kaplan, R. M. (2021) · International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance · doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.08.005 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Leutenegger, C. M., Lozoya, C. E., Tereski, J., Savard, C., Ogeer, J., & Lallier, R. (2023) · International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance · doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.01.001 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Rivero, M. R., Feliziani, C., Angelo, C. D., Tiranti, K., Salomón, O. D., & Touz, M. C. (2020) · Parasitology Research · doi:10.1007/s00436-020-06853-7 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Marsh, A. E., & Lakritz, J. (2023) · International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance · doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.04.003 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Pyrantel resistance in canine hookworms in Queensland, Australia
Dale, A., Xu, G., Kopp, S. R., Jones, M. K., Kotze, A. C., & Abdullah, S. (2024) · Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports · doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100985 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Silva, T. K. D., Rajakaruna, R. S., Mohotti, K. M., Rajapakse, J., & Perera, P. K. (2022) · Acta Parasitologica · doi:10.1007/s11686-022-00531-7 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Grellet, A., & Mila, H. (2024) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani14162357 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Survey of U.S. based veterinarians’ knowledge, perceptions and practices about canine giardiasis
Eppler, M., Hanzlicek, G., Londono-Renteria, B. L., & Chelladurai, J. R. J. J. (2022) · Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports · doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100768 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Hon, L. S. G., Calvani, N. E. D., Ma, G. C., Ward, M. P., & Šlapeta, J. R. (2022) · Veterinary Parasitology · doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109663 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Nezami, R., Otis, C., Boyer, A., Blanchard, J., Moreau, M., Pelletier, J., Martel‐Pelletier, J., Godoy, P., & Troncy, É. (2024) · Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports · doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101036 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Growth stunted in half a litter of puppies due to intestinal parasitism
Frada, M., Machado, J., Coutinho, T., Lopes, A. P., & Ginja, M. (2020) · Veterinary Record Case Reports · doi:10.1136/vetreccr-2019-000939
Ramalingam, V., Gopalan, T. K., Sangaran, A., Ronald, S. M., Jeyathilakan, N., & Muthusamy, R. (2025) · Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports · doi:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101356
- Authors
- Ash, A., Lymbery, A., Godfrey, S., Shiel, R., & Paul, A.
- Affiliations
- Murdoch University (AU)
- University of Otago (NZ)
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Ash, Amanda
- Venue
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-01
- Volume
- 265
- Pages
- 7-14
- ISSN
- 0304-4017 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2904571375
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Parasitology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Racing and Wagering Western Australia and Greyhounds Australasia
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Parasitic infections in humans and animals
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Keywords
- gastrointestinal parasites, greyhounds, kennels, risk factors, substrate type, dog age, Sarcocystis, hookworm, Giardia, Toxocara, zoonotic transmission, parasite prevalence, anthelmintic treatment, parasite control
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Animal Husbandry, Anthelmintics, Australia, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Parasitic Diseases, Animal, Risk Factors
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review