Prevalence and intensify of Toxocara canis eggs in the hair and faecal samples of Dogs in Ilesa and Ibadan,Southwestern.Nigeria
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Date
2016
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Publisher
zoology,Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
The study investigated the presence of Toxocara canis eggs in the faeces and hair of dogs from Ilesa and Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. It also compared the prevalence and intensity of Toxocara canis eggs in the hair and faecal samples of dogs from the two study areas, identified the possible risk factors for Toxocara infection in dogs and determined the knowledge of dog owners to toxocariasis. This was with a view to preventing zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the parasite.
Samples of fresh dog faeces were collected into a pre-labelled, clean, sterile universal plastic bottle containing 10% formaldehyde solution. With permission of dog owners, hair samples were taken with the aid of small scissors from three different locations on the dog’s body; the neck, back and the peri-anal regions. The samples taken were labelled with sex and age of dogs was groupedinto puppies, young dogs and adults. The faecal and hair samples were processed for helminth eggs concentration using the modified Kato-Katz technique for the recovery of helminth eggs. Processed faecal and hair samples were examined under light microscope at a magnification of X100 for T. canis eggs, and other helminth eggs were identified based on standard identification keys. Questionnaires were administered to dog owners to collect information on the knowledge on toxocariasis and risk factors for Toxocara infection in dogs. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 and statistical significance was assigned at P≤0.05.
Out of a total of 477 faecal samples examined, 144 (30.2%) dogs were positive for intestinal helminth eggs. Three gastrointestinal helminths were identified with a prevalence of 20.8% for T. canis, 17.6%for Ancylostoma caninum and 6.3% for Dipylidium caninum. The prevalence of T. canis among dogs at Ilesa (30.5%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the prevalence of the parasite obtained at Ibadan (14.9%). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of T. canis between male and female in Ibadan and Ilesa. Among the age groups, the highest prevalence of T. canis was recorded in dogs aged less than six months old. Analysis of risk factors showed that mode of life of dogs played a significant role in the prevalence of T. canis infection (P<0.05). A total of 801 hair samples were collected from 267 dogs comprising 150 dogs from Ibadan and 117 dogs from Ilesa. 450 hair samples were collected from dogs at Ibadan and 351 hair samples from Ilesa. Out of 450 hair samples examined from Ibadan, 12(8.0%) was contaminated with Toxocara ova from the neck, 11 (7.3%) from back, and 9(6.0%) from the anal regions and a total of 72 eggs was recovered from the hair samples. In Ilesa, out of 351 hair samples examined, Toxocara ova was recovered from 10 (8.5%) hair samples collected from the neck region, 12 (10.3%) from the back region and 8 (6.8%) from anal region. A total of 116 eggs were recovered from the hair samples from the three regions. The total number of eggs recovered in both locations was higher in the male dogs than in the female dogs. All the eggs recovered were unembryonated.
The study concluded that presence of T. canis eggs in the hair of dogs examined from both locations could serve as another route of transmission of these nematode eggs to humans.
Description
xii,75p
Keywords
Faecal samples, Toxocara canis, Dogs, Hair, Nematodes eggs
Citation
Ayanniyi,O.O. (2016). Prevalence and intensify of Toxocara canis eggs in the hair and faecal samples of Dogs in Ilesa and Ibadan,Southwestern,Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University