Introduction:

Gastrointestinal infection is a public health problem that affects children; this compromise can be caused by zoonotic parasites, which are transmitted from animals to humans by fecalism and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, steatorrhea, malabsorption, intestinal obstruction and cysticercosis; the form of presentation depends on the immunological and nutritional status of the patient. Giardia duodenalis, ascaris lumbricoides, strongyloides stercoralis, toxocara canis and taenia spp., they are parasites that are associated with contact with dogs, when hygiene conditions and veterinary control are poor.

Material and methods:

A compilation of results of coproparasitological examinations from the América Laboratory, La Paz, Bolivia, from January 2022 to March 2023 (107 reports) was carried out; on the other hand, dog stool samples were processed (processed in less than 2 hours from collection) in facilities of the Universidad Private del Valle, La Paz, Bolivia (18 samples).

Results:

Of a total of 125 samples analyzed, 103 (82,4 %) were positive for at least one parasite. Giardia duodenalis was found in 53 samples (42,4 %), Ascaris lumbricoides in 49 (39,2%), and Toxocara canis in 1 (0,8 %).

Discussion:

Poor hygiene practices by the population interfere with proper collection and disinfection of areas that come into contact with canine feces and pose a risk of infection due to the forms of resistance of the parasites.