Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hookworm and other parasites found in dogs in Sri Lanka tea estate
By De Silva, Tilini K et al.·Published in Acta parasitologica·2022·Department of Zoology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First Molecular Identification of Ancylostoma Species in Dogs in a Rural Tea Estate Community in Sri Lanka and the Detection of Other Zoonotic Gastro-intestinal Parasites.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of free-roaming dogs in a tea estate community in Sri Lanka were found to have high rates of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, with 97% testing positive. The most common parasite was a type of hookworm called Ancylostoma caninum, affecting 45% of the dogs, while another parasite, Entamoeba, was found in 58%. Female dogs had a higher prevalence of these infections, possibly due to immune changes during pregnancy. This study highlights the need for better veterinary care and public awareness about the health risks associated with these parasites, which can also affect humans.
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Abstract
PURPOSE: Ancylostoma spp. causing canine hookworm infections are distributed worldwide with a high prevalence in the South Asian region. Here, we report the first molecular identification of the canine hookworm infecting the dogs in Sri Lanka. METHOD: Fresh faecal samples were collected from free-roaming dogs in tea estate communities in Talawakelle, processed and microscopically analysed for gastro-intestinal parasites. The common dog hookworm Ancylostoma sp. was further investigated using molecular diagnostic tools including PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: Of the individual dogs sampled, 97.0% (97/100) were positive for GI parasites, identifying 14 species, all of which were zoonotic. Entamoeba sp. (58.0% (58/100)) was the most prevalent infection and Ancylostoma sp. (45.0% (45/100)) was the most prevalent helminth infection. Overall, helminth prevalence was higher in female dogs (92.5% (37/40)) than male dogs (73.3% (44/60)), potentially due to immune suppression during pregnancy and lactation. The prevalence and burden of Toxocara canis was higher in puppies (≤ 1 year) (68.8%(11/16); Chi-square test; χ = 20.912, p < 0.001 and FEC = 5.91; Mann-Whitney U test; p < 0.001), possibly due to vertical trans-mammary or trans-placental transmission of infective larvae. This study also presents the first record of Hymenolepis sp. from dogs in Sri Lanka. Ancylostoma sp. was molecularly confirmed as A. caninum. CONCLUSION: The local variant of A. caninum was phylogenetically unique and showed 99.2% similarity to that from India. The high prevalence of zoonotic GI parasites with public health significance highlights the importance of improving community well-being, veterinary care for dogs, and public awareness on zoonoses.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35386069/