Coproscopy survey of gastrointestinal parasites in owned dogs of Kerman city, Iran.

Abstract

A coproscopy survey was conducted on 100 owned dogs in Kerman city from July 2011 to July 2012 with the objective to assess the presence of Gastrointestinal parasites with zoonotic potential. Faecal samples from 100 dogs were examined for the presence of parasites. Samples (n=100) collected from dogs of different ages and genders were analysed using 5 techniques, i.e. centrifugal flotation in sucrose solution, centrifugal flotation in 33% Zinc sulphate solution, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, trichrome staining, and iodine staining. The overall proportion of Gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 16% (16/100). The most frequently observed parasites in this study were Toxocara canis (9%), followed by Taeniidae eggs (3%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3%), Troglotrema salmincola (1%), Toxoscaris leonina (1%) and Isospora canis (1%). Most of the dogs (62%) included in the study were regularly dewormed and no significant association was found between parasitic infection and sex, age and breed of the dogs. It is noteworthy that this is the first report of Troglotrema salmincola infection in Iran.