Protozoan Parasites, Pprotozoan Infections
Some protozoan parasites are relatively inconsequential, but other types are potentially life-threatening and difficult to eliminate.
Coccidiosis
Coccidia are protozoa (a collective term for single-cell organisms many of which being parasitic) that infect the intestines and can provoke a watery diarrhea. The parasites primarily causes problems in newborn pups. Coccidia rarely cause disease unless puppies are stressed and living in unsanitary conditions. Diarrhea in puppies may progress to become mucus-covered and tinged with blood. Puppies often stop eating and quickly become dehydrated.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Coccidiosis
Coccidia are commonly found in normal pup feces, but they multiply when puppies are stressed in some way—when they have other internal parasites, such as roundworms— In an affected puppy, coccidia eggs (cysts) can be detected when fecal samples are examined under a microscope.
Treatment includes giving the pup fluids for dehydration when necessary, improving hygiene, eliminating other parasites, and using antiprotozoan drugs such as amprolium. Antibiotics, especially sulfonamide drugs (trimethoprim-sulfa) are sometimes used to eliminate any bacterial infection that follow the underlying protozoan invasion.
Prevention of Coccidiosis
Coccidia parasites are passed in an affected animal's feces. To prevent the parasites from spreading, it is important to isolate sick animals from other dogs. Good hygiene should be maintained, and young puppies subjected to minimum stress.
Giardiasis
This increasingly common infection, caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Giardia, is seen in dogs, cats and people worldwide. Dogs contract giardiasis by drinking water contaminated with cystic forms of the Giardia parasite (oocysts). In most cases, there are no obvious signs of disease, but some affected dogs develop persistent bulky, smelly stools. These unpleasant bowel movements may occur intermittently or may become chronic (continuing for weeks or months).
Diagnosis & Treatment of Giardiasis
Oocysts are only shed intermittently by the Giardia parasites. They are seen when stool samples are examined under a microscope. Infected dogs sometimes do not produce any detectable oocysts, so blood tests are more accurate for establishing whether the disease is present in a particular dog.
Giardiasis is relatively simple to treat with either metronidazole (Flagyl) or fenbendazole (Panacur). Metronidazole should not be given to pregnant female dogs. Prevention of Giardiasis
Avoid drinking water that may be contaminated by wildlife as it is the cause of both human and dog infection.
Leishmaniasis
This serious protozoan infection, also called kala-azar, is the most common parasitic disease of dogs in southern Europe. Leishmaniasis affects up to 40% of dogs throughout Greece, extending halfway up the Adriatic coast of former Yugoslavia and Italy. The disease does not occur in Australia. In North America it was first reported in 2000 among pack hounds in some areas of the southeastern United States.
 Leishmania sp. protozoa
Courtesy of CDCThe Leishmania parasite is acquired as a result of sandfly bites. It affects white blood cells called macrophages. A sandfly picks up white blood cells infected with parasites when feeding on an infected dog, and transmits the parasites to another dog (or other mammal) when it takes another meal.
Two Forms of Leishmaniasis
There are 2 forms of the disease. In the usually nonfatal cutaneous (skin) form, an affected dog develops crusty, dandruffy areas that may become discolored or ulcerated. In the almost fatal visceral form, there is anemia, sometimes diarrhea, and damage to the liver and spleen.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by finding organisms in smears taken from lymph nodes or skin scrapings. Anti-Leishmania drugs are licensed in some countries. Even with treatment, the outlook is poor for any dog with the visceral form of the disease.
Prevention of Leishmaniasis
Sandflies bite at night. Dogs should be kept indoors from dusk until dawn in locations where sandflies are known to exist.
 Rhipicephalus sanguineusThe brown dog tick is known to transmit diseases to animals including canine babesiosis, bovine anaplasmosis, East Coast fever and Texas cattle fever.
Courtesy of CDCBabesiosis
Babesia parasites affect red blood cells. They are transmitted by ticks between mammals and humans. Babesiosis occurs in many regions of the world. The disease is unusual in North America, although it is found in some dogs in the southeastern United States (ranging up to Massachussetts). Affected dogs are listless due to severe anemia and many pass dark-colored urine.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Babesiosis
Babesia may be seen in blood samples from affected animals. Antibody tests are also used for detection. As with leishmaniasis, anti-Babesia drugs are licensed in some countries.
Prevention of Babesiosis
Dogs in regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia where this parasite lives should be routinely treated with tick prevention measures such as the use of fipronil (Frontline) spray or the wearing of an amitraz (Preventic) collar.
 Trypanosoma brucei
Courtesy of CDCAmerican Trypanosomiasis
Trypanosoma brucei causes a severe disease in all domestic animals, including horse, cattle, sheep, dogs, and cats.
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is common in Central and South America but rare in North America. It is transmitted by blood-sucking insects called "kissing bugs". While feeding, the bug defecates, passing the protozoa in its feces. The infected dog or person scratches the bite, and the protozoa enter the bloodstream, where they invade white blood cells. As with all parasites, puppies are more susceptible than adults. Signs of American trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas' disease) may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and loss of coordination. The heart and muscles may be affected.
Diagnosis & Treatment of American Trypanosomiasis
Blood tests are used during acute stages of the disease, as well tests to detect antibodies. There is no effective treatment for this disease.
Prevention of American Trypanosomiasis
Transmission of the disease can be reduced by the use of insecticide that will eliminate the bloodsucking bugs from homes in regions where they exist.
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