Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs from Umuahia City of Abia State

Abstract

A total of 210 faecal samples from owned indigenous (puppies and adults) and exotic (puppies and adults) breeds of dogs were collected from the city of Umuahia, Abia state. Samples were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites using faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of the 210 samples examined 10 were negative for helminths eggs and protozoans oocysts. The 10 negative samples were all from exotic breeds with history of deworming. The 9 species found were:
Toxocara canis (95%); Uncinaria stenocephala (95%); Dipylidium caninum (90%); Ancylostoma braziliense (90%) Spirocerca lupi (36%); Diphyllobothrium latum (40%); Troglotrema salmincola (64%); Linguatula serrata (36%) and Filaroides osleri (57%) The prevalence of T. canis (95%); Uncinaria stenocephala (95%) and Ancylostoma braziliense (90%) were highest in the dogs. From our data the pattern of the disease was age dependent. Puppies had higher prevalence (100 %) than the adults
(57%). Linguatula serrata (36%) and Spirucerca lupi (36%) were found only in the indigenous breed. The general high prevalence of these parasites of public health importance highlights the importance of
this work which will provide a baseline to enforce policies that will govern dog keeping in Nigeria such as demand for monthly veterinary assistance in deworming of dogs.