Parasite risks from raw meat-based diets for companion animals
Paul Overgaauw
Abstract
In industrialised countries, dogs and cats are more often fed raw meat-based diets. There are microbial hazards associated with raw meat and these can introduce the risk of insufficient nutrition, as a result of nutritional imbalances and deficiencies. A literature review has been carried out to evaluate the risks of parasite infections in companion animals resulting from raw meat-based diets. Parasites present in raw meat use dogs and cats as part of their life cycle, these include protozoa such as Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Cystoisospora, Neospora and Hammondia; the nematodes Toxocara spp. and Trichinella; and the tapeworms Taenia spp., Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. Because of the lack of prevalence data, a valuable risk analysis is difficult. However, the life cycles demonstrate that eating raw meat-based diets and prey animals, can be a route of infection. Such agents can also be present in slaughtered animals. Infections can induce disease in intermediate hosts, but also in humans and other animal species, as an environment can be contaminated with oocysts or eggs. Several parasites can be transmitted via the alimentary route when raw meat-based diets are fed to companion animals. The best prevention method is to feed your companion animals commercial food or to cook meat and organs before feeding.