PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN DIFFERENT DOG BREEDS FROM SELECTED AREAS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LGA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) have been domesticated for thousands years and live more closely with humans than any other animals, becoming a part of our families and society. This study was conducted to investigate the gastrointestinal parasites infection in different dog breeds from Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, Nigeria. Faecal sample from 40 dogs belonging to nine breeds were examined using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique, and 39 (97.5%) was infected with helminth parasites. Thirteen parasites species were identified namely: Dipylidium caninum, Diphyllobothrium sp., Hymenolepis diminuta, Taenia pisiformis, Heterobilharzia americana, Paragonimus kellicoti, Ancyclostoma caninum, Baylisaascaris procynosis, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis, Uncinaria stenocephalala, Ancylostoma duodenale and Strongyloides stercoralis. Caucasian breed was the most infected, harboring 12 species (92.3%) of all the parasites, while Pitbull had the least with only one species (7.7%)]. Strongyloides stercoralis had the highest prevalence (80.0%) of parasitic infection. Male dogs (94.4%) were more infected than females (86.4%). Among the different age categories examined, the age group of 3 – 4 years had the highest (92.9%) infection rate. The study revealed a high prevalence and diversity of parasitic infections of public health concern, hence the importance of effective control and prevention measures.