Recurrent patent infections with Toxocara canis in household dogs older than six months: a prospective study

Parasites & Vectors

Table 3 Results of the final multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model for T. canis reinfection

	No. of dogs	No. of dog-months at risk	No. of observed RPIs	HR	95 % CI		P-value
Age group
6–12 months	49	110	30	Ref.
1–7 years	202	2,211	170	0.85	0.49	1.46	0.552
> 7 years	96	926	84	0.87	0.47	1.62	0.663
Sex
Male	121	1,400	125	Ref.
Female	162	1,847	159	1.27	0.91	1.77	0.160
Coprophagy
No	118	1,234	84	Ref.
Yes	170	2,013	200	1.09	0.74	1.59	0.674
Sampling season
Summer	237	777	57	Ref.
Winter	220	612	95	1.68	1.15	2.46	0.008
Autumn	239	857	50	1.30	0.82	2.08	0.266
Spring	244	1,001	82	1.43	0.96	2.14	0.079
Taking corticosteroids
No	265	3,036	263	Ref.
Yes	25	211	21	2.38	1.09	5.19	0.029
Frequency of dog’s faeces removal/disposal
Never	32	351	48	Ref.
Sometimes	160	1,903	164	0.54	0.33	0.86	0.01
Always	89	993	72	0.54	0.32	0.91	0.02
Change in dog’s main purpose/use
No	280	3,238	281	Ref.
Yes	8	9	3	10.84	1.14	103.21	0.038
Having neurologic conditions
No	279	3,188	283	Ref.
Yes	9	59	1	0.11	0.02	0.74	0.023
Having orthopaedic conditions
No	262	2,891	260	Ref.
Yes	45	356	24	0.55	0.28	1.06	0.074
Owner usually buys anthelmintic drugs at veterinary clinics
No	134	1,464	107	Ref.
Yes	147	1,783	177	1.52	1.10	2.11	0.011
Time since last deworming (months)^a	–	–	–	1.003	1.001	1.005	< 0.0001

^aContinuously time-varying variable let interact with the underlying time variable
Abbreviations: HR hazard ratio; 95 % CI, 95 % confidence interval; RPI recurrent patent infection; Ref. reference category

ISSN: 1756-3305