Abstract
Gastro-intestinal parasites (GIPs) of stray dogs and cats play an epidemiological critical role, and also play a major role in transmitting through contamination of soil, food and/or drinking water with GIPs faecals. The objective of this study was to screening the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in stray dogs and cats in Kirkuk province, Iraq. Fresh faecal specimens (n=125) of stray dogs and cats were collected during 15th February 2015 till 15th February 2016 from different regions of Kirkuk province. The experimental processing were carried out within 24 h.s using flotation techniques, and stained using Ziehl–Neelsen, trichrome and iodine staining technique protocols. The overall significant prevalence of GIPs among stray dogs (n=77) was 84.42%, these were Toxocara canis (25.98%), Diphylobotherium latum (23.38%), Isospora spp. (20.78%), Dipylidium caninum (16.88%), Taenia hydatigera (14.29%), Echinicoccus spp. (6.49%), Mesocestoides spp. (6.49%), Cryptosporidium spp. (6.49%), Ancylostoma caninum (2.59%) and Stongyloides sp. (1.3%). Of 48 stray cats faecal specimens subjected to the present study, 77.08% were positive for GIPs significantly, including Toxocara cati (39.58%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (22.92%), Taenia taeniaeformis (14.58%), Toxascaris leonina (6.25%), Diphylobotherium latum (6.25%), Cryptosporidium spp. (27.08%), Isospora spp. (10.41%) and Toxoplasma gondii (8.33%(. Among infected stray dogs Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum are the commonest GIPs in the present study. While, Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme are the most prevalence among stray cats in Kirkuk province. Among infected stray dogs Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum are the commonest GIPs in the present study. While, Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme are the most prevalence among stray cats in Kirkuk province.
Highlights
Stray dogs and cats are considered as domestic animals, and frequently infected by gastrointestinal parasites
The present investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of Gastro-intestinal parasites (GIPs) in stray dogs and cats in Kirkuk province, Northern of Iraq
GIPs were 84.42% and 77.06%, respectively Fig. (3). These results considered to be a very high level of infection that require a cooperation between Iraqi Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) for establishing a radical effective anti-parasite control protocol
Summary
Stray dogs and cats are considered as domestic animals, and frequently infected by gastrointestinal parasites. Several canine and feline hosts may carry several zoonotic pathogenic infectious intestinal parasites that caused potential health hazards [1]. The epidemiological studies revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among dogs and cats worldwide is vary, and might be dependent on geographical distribution , habits of the local animal populations and season of the year. The prevalence of the intestinal parasites in stray animals is higher than the pets [4]. The most tangible of the prevalence of these intestinal parasites is the cost of expensive medical treatment for human cases. Echinococcosis infects slaughtered animals, which leads to further economic losses [5, 6]
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