Prevalence and diversity of zoonotic protozoa in dogs in Lokoja, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

The risk of zoonotic protozoan diseases has increased in recent times through the unregulated breeding of dogs in the neighbourhood of human dwellings. Dogs (341) brought into the seven major (Based on full employment of at least one veterinarian) veterinary clinics in Lokoja, North Central Nigeria (October 2021 to August, 2022) for medical evaluations were enlisted in this study to determine the prevalence and diversity of zoonotic protozoa in the dogs. Faecal and blood samples were screened using modified Ziehl – Neelsen and direct microscopy techniques for the presence of intestinal and blood protozoan oocysts. Out of the faecal and blood samples collected from each of the 341 dogs enlisted in the study, 207 (60.7%) were positive for protozoa. Faecal protozoa had a higher frequency of occurrence; 50.4% (172/341) compared to blood protozoan; 10.3% (35/341).Eimeria histolytica was the most frequently occurring protozoa; 14.4% (49/341), followed by Giardia; 12.0% (41/341) and the least was Babesia; 3.8% (13/341). There was however no significant difference in the prevalence of protozoa and the type of parasite (P = 0.702). Age-specific, prevalence showed that puppies under 1 year had a higher prevalence of protozoa; 84.1% (174/207) compared to the adults; 16.0% (33/207). The relationship was not significant (χ²=3.816; P = 0.702). Local breed of dogs had the highest prevalence of protozoa; 68.2% (137/201), followed by exotic; 60.47% (26/43) and the least was the cross breed, 45.4% (44/97). There is a significant difference in the prevalence of protozoa in local and cross breeds of dogs (P = 0.001). The female dogs had a higher prevalence; 77.0% (117/152) compared to males; 45.5% (86/189). There was an association between prevalence of protozoa and sex of dogs (χ² = 16.77; P = 0.010).