Background: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are major protozoan parasites of worldwide distribution and significance in veterinary medicine and, for T. gondii, in public health. Cats and dogs, as final hosts for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively, have a key function in environmental contamination with oocysts and, thus, in parasite transmission. Very little is known about the prevalence of T. gondii infections in dogs and cats in Egypt, and even less about the prevalence of N. caninum in the same hosts. Methods: In the current study, 223 serum samples of both dogs (n = 172) and cats (n = 51) were investigated for specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum using commercially available ELISAs. A risk factor analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with seropositivity. Results & discussion: Exposure to T. gondii was reported in 23.3% of the dogs and in 9.8% of the cats, respectively. In addition, N. caninum-specific antibodies were recorded in 5.8% of dogs and in 3.4% of cats. A mixed infection was found in two dogs (1.2%) and in one cat (2%). Antibodies to T. gondii in dogs were significantly more frequent in dogs aged 3 years or more and in male German Shepherds. As this breed is often used as watchdogs and was the most sampled breed in Alexandria governorate, the purpose “watchdog” (compared to “stray” or “companion”), the male sex, and the governorate “Alexandria” also had a significantly higher seroprevalence for T. gondii. No factors associated with antibodies to N. caninum could be identified in dogs, and no significant factors were determined in cats for either T. gondii or N. caninum infection. Our study substantially adds to the knowledge of T. gondii infection in dogs and cats and presents data on N. caninum infection in cats for the first and in dogs in Egypt for the second time.

Toxocara canis is a gastrointestinal nematode affecting dogs with significant public health importance. this study is conducted to find out the hematological and biochemical changes in dogs infected with toxocara canis and to detect the effects of some factors including sex, age, and season on the percent of infection with this parasite. A total of 70 dogs’ fecal and hematologic and serum samples were collected from veterinary clinics in Hurghada and Luxor governorate. Microscopic analysis of fecal samples revealed three types of intestinal parasites: Toxocara canis (n= 19), Toxascaris leonina (n= 5), Isospora canis (n=4) and mixed infection of Toxocara canis and Isospora canis (n= 3). Whole blood samples were examined for total erythrocytic count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, Total leukocytic count and differential leukocytic count. Serum samples were separated and analysed for total protein, albumin, Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase. Significant decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume along with significant increase in white blood cell count and eosinophils were recorded in dogs infected with Toxacara canis. Significant decrease in total protein, albumin accompanied by significant increase in Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase values were found. Sex, season, and breed showed non-significant differences in infection percent of intestinal parasites, but age had high impact on infection percent of intestinal parasites. parasites.