Parasitic diseases of cats and dogs in the tropics

Parasitic, infectious and vector-borne diseases of humans and animals thrive in the typically hot and humid environment of the tropics. Many countries in these regions of the world remain underdeveloped with limited resources at their disposal to effectively combat the tremendous disease burdens borne by their human populations. Research, surveillance and control of veterinary diseases have been given priority only when those diseases have an impact on poverty alleviation or if they pose a significant zoonotic threat to the community. In some societies however, in Asia in particular, economic growth and increasing affluence has resulted in changing attitudes towards companion animal ownership and with this has come increasingly higher expectations and demands on veterinary surgeons for improved knowledge in canine and feline medicine and surgery. Yet despite expanding access to information technology, regionally pertinent information for veterinarians concerning the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of tropical diseases of these companion animals is scarce. The paper aims to redress this imbalance by providing, for the first time, a comprehensive review of the parasitic diseases of cats and dogs in the tropics. The first section discusses diseases and parasites of zoonotic importance; echinococcosis, toxocariasis, ancylostomiasis, the liver and intestinal flukes, gnathostomiasis, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and American trypanosomiasis. In the second section the parasitic diseases of clinical importance for the animals themselves are considered, including babesiosis, dirofilariasis, hepatozoonosis, ectoparasitic diseases, angiostrongylosis and spirocercosis, with information provided on the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. © CABI Publishing 2006.