Sentinel prevalence study of zoonotic parasites of domestic dogs in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State

Abstract

Dogs are pets and they play a significant role as hosts and reservoirs of different pathogens shared with humans and wildlife. Close association between humans and dogs carries the risk of human exposure to parasites. In this study, we examine the prevalence and management of zoonotic parasitic infections in domestic dogs in Moro Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, North-Central, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy-four (174) dog faecal samples collected from selected communities in the LGA were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Formol ether concentration technique was used for the identification of the parasites. In the dog faecal samples examined, 53.7% (93/173) were infected, out of which 45.7% (48/105) and 65.2% (45/69) were from males and females, respectively. The parasites occurrence varies with sex, age, and breed, but the highest infection occurred in dogs aged ≥ 12 months old. The parasites found in the faecal samples and their order of occurrence include: Dipylidium caninum > Strongyloides stercoralis > Ancylostoma spp. > Ascaris lumbricoides > Toxocara canis > Taenia spp. > Balantidium coli. Tick (31) was the only ectoparasite found on the dogs. These dogs pose a threat to the health of both people and animals by contaminating the environment with endoparasites and ectoparasites. To reduce the potential health risks to the human and animal populations, methods for controlling the dog's faecal samples in the environment should be developed by public health workers.