Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gastrointestinal worm infections in dogs from Northeastern Nigeria
By Jajere, Saleh Mohammed et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2022·Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths among dogs from Northeastern Nigeria: a potential public health concern.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study of 470 dogs in Northeastern Nigeria found that a significant number, about 78%, had gastrointestinal worms, which can be a health risk to humans. The most common types of worms identified were Ancylostoma caninum (hookworms), Toxocara canis (roundworms), and Trichuris vulpis (whipworms). Younger dogs, female dogs, and those in poor body condition were more likely to be infected. This highlights the importance of regular deworming and veterinary care to protect both pets and their owners from potential health issues.
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Abstract
Understanding the epidemiology of canine parasitic infections, gastrointestinal helminthic infections in particular, is crucial for designing an efficient control programs targeted at minimizing the risks of zoonotic transmission. A total of 470 dogs attending veterinary clinics in Northeastern Nigeria were screened for gastrointestinal helminths using standard parasitological techniques. Epidemiological risk factors associated with the canine parasitic infections were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. In total, 77.9% (366/470) of dogs had harboured one or more species of the gastrointestinal helminths: Ancylostoma caninum (40.2%), Toxocara canis (35.1%) Trichuris vulpis (26.6%), Spirocerca lupi (5.7%), Taenia/Echinococcus (12.3%), Dipylidium caninum (10.9%) and Diphyllobothriid ova (2.8%). Female dogs (OR=2.1; p=0.02), local breeds (OR=2.3; p<0.01), younger dogs (OR=3.2; p<0.001), dogs adopted as security guards (OR=1.8; p<0.01) and poor body condition score (OR=3.1; p<0.001) were strongly associated with A. caninum infection. For T. canis and T. vulpis, younger dogs (OR=2.5; p=0.02 and OR=2.3; p<0.01) and poor body condition score (OR=4.2; p<0.001 and OR=2.2; p<0.01) were the strong predictors for infection, whereas female dogs (OR=2.8; p=0.02), younger dogs (OR=4.1; p<0.001) and poor body condition score (OR=4.0; p<0.001) were strongly associated with D. caninum infection in dogs. The results revealed high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths-some of which have zoonotic potential-among dogs underlying huge public health risk.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35543746/