Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T04:58:14.312Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Epidemiology of intestinal helminth parasites in stray dogs from markets in south-eastern Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2010

I.C. Okoye ,
N.R. Obiezue ,
C.E. Okorie  and
I.E. Ofoezie
I.C. Okoye*
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
N.R. Obiezue
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
C.E. Okorie
Affiliation:
Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
I.E. Ofoezie
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A survey of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of stray dogs (Canis familiaris) was conducted at Obollo-Afor and Ekwulobia markets, in Enugu and Anambra States, south-eastern Nigeria, respectively, to determine the patterns of infection among dogs in different parts of south-eastern Nigeria. Faecal samples collected, using long forceps, from every dog encountered in the markets between June 2007 and December 2008 were analysed by the Kato–Katz technique. Out of 413 dogs examined in both markets, 217 (52.6%) were infected with at least one of five parasites (Toxocara spp., Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma caninum, Taenia spp. and Trichuris vulpis). Overall faecal egg intensity of infection was 49.9 ± 58.7 eggs/g (epg). The prevalence of infection was comparable between the markets and between the male and female dogs, but varied significantly (P < 0.05) by age, decreasing from 78.9% in pups to 36.0% in adult dogs. The mean intensity pattern was similar to that of prevalence, decreasing from 86.7 ± 63.0 epg in pups to 22.1 ± 34.4 in adults. The most important individual parasite infection was Ancylostoma spp. (39.2%; 30.0 ± 41.2 epg) while T. vulpis was the least important (1.9%; 0.7 ± 5.4 epg). Generally, prevalence and intensity patterns of each parasite were also comparable between the markets and between sexes, but significantly (P < 0.05) age-dependent. The implications of these findings to public health in Nigeria and other endemic countries are discussed in relation to options for cost-effective control design and implementation.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 85 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 415 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anene, B.M., Nnaji, T.O. & Chime, A.B. (1996) Intestinal parasitic infections of dogs in the Nsukka area of Enugu state, Nigeria. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 27, 89–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayoade, J.O. (1982) Climate I: ITD movements and winds. pp. 14–15in Barbour, K.M., Oguntoyinbo, J.S., Onyemelukwe, J.O.C. & Nwafor, J.C. (Eds) Nigeria in maps. London, Hodder and Stoughton.Google Scholar
Baba, S.S., Ogunkoya, A.B. & Ezeokoli, C.D. (1983) Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of dogs in rural communities in Nigeria. Tropical Veterinary 1, 98–101.Google Scholar
Bowman, D.D. (1999) Georgis' parasitology for veterinarians. 414 pp. London, W.B. Saunders.Google Scholar
Chiejine, S.N. & Ekwe, T.O. (1986) Canine toxocariasis and the associated environmental contamination of urban areas in eastern Nigeria. Veterinary Parasitology 22, 157–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Craig, P.S. & Macpherson, C.N.L. (2000) Dogs and cestode zoonoses. pp. 149–211in Macpherson, C.N.L., Meslin, F.X. & Wandeler, A.I. (Eds) Dogs, zoonoses and public health. Wallingford, UK, CAB International.Google Scholar
Ezeokoli, C.D. (1984) Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in pet dogs in Zaria, Nigeria. Nigeria Veterinary Journal 13, 55–57.Google Scholar
Gawor, J., Borecka, A., Zarnowska, H., Marczynska, M. & Dobosz, S. (2008) Environmental and personal risk factors for toxocariasis in children with diagnosed diseases in urban and rural areas of central Poland. Veterinary Parasitology 155, 217–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hagan, P. (1992) Re-infection, exposure and immunity in human schistosomiasis. Parasitology Today 8, 12–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jamshidi, S.H., Meshgi, B. & Toghani, M. (2002) A study of helminthic infection of gastrointestinal tract in stray cats in urban areas in Isfahan. Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran 57, 25–27.Google Scholar
Katz, N., Chaves, A. & Pellegrino, J. (1994) A simple device for quantitative thick smear technique in Schistosoma mansoni. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 14, 97–100.Google Scholar
Kimani, C. (2009) Africa: figures reveal extent of neglected diseases. Available athttp://allafrica.com/stories/200909040158.html (accessed on 12 July 2010).Google Scholar
Kornbalt, A.N. & Schantz, P.M. (1980) Veterinary and public health consideration in canine roundworm control. A survey of practicing veterinarians. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 137, 1212–1215.Google Scholar
Malgor, R., Oku, Y., Gallardo, R. & Yarzabal, I. (1996) High prevalence of Ancylostoma spp. infection in dogs associated with endemic focus of human cutaneous larval migrans in Tacuarembo, Uruguay. Parasite 3, 131–134.Google Scholar
Martinez-Moreno, F.J., Hernandez, S., Lopez-Cobos, E., Becerra, C., Acosta, I. & Martinez-Moreno, A. (2007) Estimation of canine intestinal parasites in Cordoba (Spain) and their risk to public health. Veterinary Parasitology 143, 7–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Minaar, W.N. & Krecek, K.C. (2001) Helminths in dogs belonging to people in a resource-limited urban community in Gauteng. South Africa. Journal of Veterinary Research 68, 111–117.Google Scholar
Ofoezie, I.E. (2002) Human health and sustainable water resources development in Nigeria: schistosomiasis in artificial lakes. National Resources Forum 26, 150–160.Google Scholar
Ogunkoya, A.B., Useh, N.M. & Esievo, K.A.N. (2006) The haemogram of dogs with gastrointestinal parasites in Zaria, Nigeria. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 5, 782–785.Google Scholar
Olufemi, B.E. & Bobade, P.A. (1979) Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of dogs in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 8, 68–72.Google Scholar
Onyenwe, I.W. & Ikpegbu, E.O. (2004) Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs presented at the University of Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UNVTH) between 1994–2002. Nigerian Veterinary Journal 25, 21–25.Google Scholar
Panadey, V.S., Dakkak, A. & Elmamoune, M. (1987) Parasites of stray dogs in the Rabat Region of Morocco. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 81, 53–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramirez-Barrios, R.A., Barboza-Mena, G., Munoz, J., Angulo-Cubillan, F., Henandez, E., Gonzalez, F. & Escalona, F. (2004) Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs under veterinary care in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Veterinary Parasitology 121, 11–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmidt, G.D. & Roberts, L.S. (1989) Foundation of parasitology. 750 pp. Toronto, Times Mirror/Mosby College Publishers.Google Scholar
Senlik, B., Cirak, Y.Y. & Karabacak, A. (2006) Intestinal nematode infections in Turkish military dogs with special reference to Toxocara canis. Journal of Helminthology 80, 299–303.Google ScholarPubMed
Sowemimo, O.A. (2007) Prevalence and intensity of Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) in dogs and its potential public health significance in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Journal of Helminthology 81, 433–438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sowemimo, O.A. (2009) Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Journal of Helminthology 83, 27–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sowemimo, O.A. & Asaolu, S.O. (2008) Epidemiology of intestinal helminth parasites of dogs in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Helminthology 82, 89–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ugochukwu, E.I. & Ejimadu, K.N. (1985) Comparative studies on the infestation of three breeds of dogs by gastrointestinal helminths. International Journal of Zoonosis 12, 318–322.Google Scholar
Urquhart, G.M., Armour, J., Duncan, J.L., Dunn, A.M. & Jennings, F.W. (2003) Veterinary parasitology. 307 pp. Oxford, Blackwell Science and Book Power Publishers.Google Scholar
WHO (1993) The control of schistosomiasis. Second report of the World Health Organization Expert Committee, Geneva. WHO Technical Report Series No. 830.Google Scholar
WHO (1994) Bench aids for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites: Laboratory manual. 144 pp. Geneva, World Health Organization.Google Scholar
WHO (2003) Global defense against the infectious diseases threat. WHO/CDS/2003.15. Geneva, World Health Organization.Google Scholar