Sessions

Shelter animals often have unknown health and deworming histories, while crowded housing and environmental conditions may facilitate parasite transmission. They may therefore represent important sentinel populations for parasitic infections, including zoonotic parasites. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of vector-borne and non-vector-borne parasites in dogs and cats from Hungarian animal shelters.

Between March 2025 and April 2026, 441 animals (404 dogs and 37 cats) from five Hungarian shelters were examined. Faecal samples (n=418) were analysed using centrifugal flotation, with the majority (n=367) additionally examined using the Baermann technique. Blood samples (n=322) were screened by PCR for piroplasm, Hepatozoon and Leishmania spp., while conjunctival swabs (n=273) were tested for Thelazia spp.

Overall, 103 of 418 animals (24.6%) were positive for at least one faecal parasite taxon. In dogs, Giardia duodenalis was the most frequently identified parasite (18.1%), followed by Trichuris vulpis (4.5%) and hookworms (4.2%). Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina were found in five dogs (1.3%), while Cystoisospora spp. occurred in 1.3%. Capillaria spp. and Sarcocystis spp. were each found in three dogs (0.8%), and Crenosoma vulpis was recorded in a single dog. Mixed infections were observed in 20 dogs (4.8%). In cats, Cystoisospora spp. oocysts and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus larvae each occurred in 5.4% of animals. Among vector-borne protozoa, Hepatozoon canis was identified in 6.0% and Babesia canis in 1.8% of tested dogs, while Hepatozoon felis was detected in two tested cats (6.1%). No samples tested positive for Leishmania spp. or Thelazia spp. Dogs younger than 1.5 years had significantly higher prevalences of both Giardia duodenalis and intestinal nematodes (p<0.0001). Moreover, Giardia duodenalis and Hepatozoon spp. were detected in all five shelters, indicating their widespread occurrence in the studied shelter populations. The frequent occurrence of Giardia duodenalis and the presence of Toxocara canis are of particular relevance given their zoonotic potential.

These findings highlight the importance of routine parasitological screening in Hungarian animal shelters, particularly in young animals and prior to adoption, to facilitate timely diagnosis and appropriate parasite control.