The Intensity of Infection and Public Health Perception of Potentially Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites of Dogs in Kwara Central, Nigeria

Document Type : Infectious agents- Diseases

Authors

1 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

2 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

3 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The close relationship between dogs and humans and the possibility of intestinal parasite transmission from dogs to humans calls for frequent assessment of the presence of these potential zoonotic intestinal parasites in dogs and the possibility of their transmission to humans.
This study aimed to determine the presence, intensity of infection, and public health perception of potentially zoonotic intestinal parasites in dogs in Kwara Central, Nigeria.
The study was conducted in 28 locations within Kwara Central Senatorial District of Kwara State, Nigeria. Three hundred and five apparently healthy dogs were sampled. Two hundred and thirty respondents (dog owners/handlers) were questioned using a well-structured questionnaire containing open-ended and closed-ended questions. Faecal samples from the sampled dogs were subjected to the direct faecal smear technique, simple faecal centrifugation flotation technique, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, and the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Oocysts or eggs per gram of faeces were counted using the modified McMaster technique.
Seven different intestinal parasites (Ancylostoma spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Dipylidium caninum, Isospora spp., Strongyloides stercoralis, Toxocara spp., and Uncinaria stenocephala) were detected, with a prevalence ranging from 2.30% to 25.25%. Of these parasites, six were zoonotic. The mean intensity of infection was 91.43 eggs per gram (EPG) for D. caninum¸ 96.52 EPG for S. stercoralis, 129.36 (±28.12) oocysts per gram (OPG) for Isospora spp., 165.17 (±19.88) for Toxocara spp., 240.00 (±44.42) EPG for U. stenocephala, and 303.64 (±31.83) EPG for Ancylostoma spp. Some of the dog owners and handlers were not cautious about the possibility of zoonotic parasite transmission from dogs.
Zoonotic intestinal parasites of dogs are present and prevalent in Kwara Central, Nigeria. There is need to educate the public on the possibility of zoonotic parasite transmission to humans.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

شدت آلودگی و درک سلامت عمومی از انگل های روده ای زئونوز بالقوه سگ ها در کوارا مرکزی،نیجریه

Authors [Persian]

  • شولا اولا فادیسون 1
  • امینات بیسولا عبدالرئوف 1
  • ایساو آرمو گانیو 1
  • کریمات حسین 1
  • هاوا موتوناریو آمبالی 2
  • نصیرت اله لو 3
1 گروه انگل شناسی و حشره شناسی دامپزشکی،دانشکده دامپزشکی،دانشگاه ایلورین،ایلورین،نیجریه
2 گروه دامپزشکی،دانشکده دامپزشکی،دانشگاه ایلورین،ایلورین،نیجریه
3 گروه پیشگیری و بهداشت عمومی دامپزشکی،دانشکده دامپزشکی،دانشگاه ایلورین،ایلورین،نیجریه

Keywords [Persian]

  • سگ ها
  • انگل های روده ای
  • نیجریه
  • سلامت عمومی
  • زئونوزها
Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 January 2023

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