Comparison of two techniques for diagnosis of intestinal helminthiasis in dogs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess for any significant difference in the use of either modified Kato-katz technique or formol-ether concentration technique in diagnosing intestinal helminth infection from dog’s faeces. Faecal samples collected randomly from individual-owning dogs from Ile-Ife between January and September, 2005, were transported to the laboratory, processed and then examined for intestinal helminth eggs using both modified Kato-katz and formol-ether concentration techniques. Out of 191 faecal samples examined 51.8% samples were positive for intestinal helminth eggs using modified Kato-katz technique while 49.2% were positive using formol-ether technique. Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma sp. eggs were the most common helminth eggs identified. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in the efficacy of the two techniques in detecting T. canis, Ancylostoma sp., T. vulpis and Toxascaris leonina eggs. Either of the two techniques could be used in diagnosing intestinal helminth infections in dogs because the overall prevalence of helminth infection using both techniques were similar and comparable to each other.

Key words: Helminth eggs, Kato-katz, formol-ether concentration, Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma sp., Trichuris vulpis.