Metrics details. Endoparasites in dogs and cats are a concern related to pet health and zoonotic risks. Although different zoonotic endoparasites, such as Toxocara spp.
Deworming guidelines, such as those created by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites ESCCAP , recommend a deworming frequency according to the risk of infection of every pet and the potential risk for zoonotic transmission.
The objectives of this study were to explore how lifestyles of dogs and cats from France were related to a particular risk of endoparasites and assess whether deworming frequencies complied with ESCCAP recommendations. French data were extracted from a database created during a recent European pet owner survey regarding endoparasitic infection risk. The compliance between the actual and recommended deworming frequencies were explored among the regions surveyed. The majority of dogs and cats were older than 6 months, had outdoor access, had contact with children or elderly people, and lived in rural and town areas.
Deworming compliance is needed to enhance pet health and reduce zoonotic risks. Future studies are warranted to thoroughly investigate the compliance and effectiveness of deworming protocols, and the risk factors associated with endoparasites in France. Endoparasites, particularly helminths, infect an important number of dogs and cats in Europe. Depending on the parasite involved, the severity of the clinical conditions associated with infection may vary from slight gastrointestinal signs to life-threatening situations [ 1 , 2 ].
Moreover, some parasites represent a significant concern for public health because of their zoonotic potential. However, the prevalence of endoparasites is a specific population measure at a given time that is affected by several determinants including the design of the study [ 17 ], the season [ 18 , 19 ], the geographical location [ 12 , 20 ], the tools implemented for the diagnosis [ 21 ], and the lifestyle of the population studied household or shelter animals [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 14 ].
