Prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites in stray and domicile dogs in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Uncontrolled population of stray and domicile dogs with intestinal protozoan in close proximity to increasing densities of human population in urban environments is a common fact in developing countries, in conjunction with the lack of veterinary attention and zoonotic awareness, increases the risks of disease transmission. We examined using standard method 108 stool specimens of stray and domicile dogs collected randomly from Ilorin, state capital of Kwara State, Nigeria for intestinal protozoan. The prevalence of intestinal parasites from both stray and domicile dogs was 64(59.3%). Three parasites were encountered; Anchylostoma sp, Cryptosporidium sp and Isospora sp. Female dogs were more infected (48.9%) than male dogs (11.1%) (P<0.001) while the stray dogs had more intestinal parasitic infection (68.3%) than domicile dogs (46.7). More of Cryptosporidium sp was observed among strayed dogs (36.5%). Double infection was highest in stray dogs (12.7%) than in domicile dogs (4.4%) but not statistically significant (p=0.051). Consistent sanitary education must be included in public health government actions as a first step for the control of intestinal parasites in dogs and good sanitation and hygiene should be encouraged minimize environmental contamination and contact with the infectious oocysts that may be shed by dogs.

Keywords: Stray dog, domicile dog, zoonoses, Crysptosporidium, Isospora.