Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of dogs and associated risk factors in Adama Town, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 with the objectives of estimating the prevalence ofhelminth parasites of dogs and associated risk factors in Adama. Standard fecal flotation and sedimentation techniques were used to identify parasite ova. Accordingly the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of dogs was found to be 82.03% (95% CI, 77.8-85. 7). Helminth species identified were Ancylostoma spp, Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara canis, Strongyloides stercolaris, Echinococcus granulosus, Trichuris uulpis, Taenia spp and Toxoascaris leonina. Ancylostoma spp were the most frequent and T. leonina was the least abundant parasite observed with prevalence of 40.1 % and 0.26%, respectively. The prevalence of helminth parasites was significantly higher (p>0.05) in young (91.4%) than adult (76.6%) dogs. Thin dogs had significantly higher (p>0.05) overall prevalence (92.8%) than fat dogs (67. 7%). Non-confined dogs had higher prevalence (92.5%) than partially confined (83.1 %) and fully confined (64.5%) dogs, the difference being statistically significant between the non-confined and fully confined categories (p<0.05). Among the three frequently observed parasites T. canis had significantly higher prevalence in young dogs. Poor body condition and degree of dog's home confinement were associated with Ancylostoma spp (p<0.05); while prevalence of D. caninum was not affected by any of the risk factors considered. Sex and breed of dogs had no significant effect on prevalence both at the overall and individual parasite levels (p>0.05). The presence of these parasites with the observed abundance and subsequent contamination of the environment by parasite ova and larvae is of public health importance. Strategic treatment of young dogs at the earliest possible age and responsible dog ownership with proper housing management were forwarded as recommendation.

Keywords: Adama, Ancylostoma spp, Helminth parasites, Risk factors, Toxocara canis, Zoonoses