Helminth Parasites of Stray Dogs and Jackals in Shahsavar Area, Caspian Region, Iran

Abstract

Thirteen species of helminths were recovered from 23 stray dogs and 20 jackals collected from the Shahsavar area in the northern part of Iran. Seven of the 13 species were found in both dogs and jackals. Prevalence and worm load of 4 of the 7 species were higher in dogs than in jackals. Female worms were more numerous than males. Hookworm was the most common helminth with respect to the number of animals infected and average worm burden. Dirofilaria repens, D. immitis, and Alaria canis are reported from Iran for the first time. A single dog was infected with Mesocestoides lineatus; one jackal was infected with Echinococcus granulosus, and another jackal harbored Alaria canis. The importance of parasites of dogs as a public health hazard, particularly in rural areas where a close association exists between man and domestic animals, is well established. Except for Taenia hydatigena Pallas, 1776; Alaria canis La Rue and Fallis, 1934; and Rictularia cahirensis Jaegers, 1904; all parasites of carnivores found during the present study have been reported as adults or larvae in man from various countries. Toxascaris, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, A. braziliense, and Dipetalonema have not been reported from Iran, nor were they among the worms collected in the present study. Hydatid cyst is one of the most important parasitic diseases of man in Iran, and although its exact prevalence is not known, several reports indicate its importance as a parasitic disease in this country (Etebar and Rahbar, 1967; Ghaed Sharghi, 1959; Samimian, 1956). Because of the heavy infection of dogs with Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) and contamination of man's environment with their feces, occurrence of visceral larva migrans in Iran is most probable (Mofidi, 1960). MATERIALS AND METHODS The stray dogs captured locally and jackals, Canis aureus L., 1758, were either shot or trapped in the vicinity of Shahsavar. The trapped animals were killed with chloroform. The skin of each aniReceived for publication 25 June 1968. * This study was supported in part by the Institute of Public Health Research, Teheran University and in part by funds from the Ministry of Health and Plan Organization for Project No. 6395. tA field unit of the Institute of Public Health Research. mal was separated and searched for Dirofilaria repens Railliet and Henry, 1911. The heart, lungs, associated arteries, and the entire alimentary tract were clamped off, removed, and examined for worms. For collecting worms from the intestine, the mucosa was searched with naked eye and hand lens and the scrapings of the epithelium were washed through a wire sieve into a cylinder. The contents of the sieve were diluted and the worms collected. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In this survey 23 dogs and 20 jackals were examined for parasites. Fifteen dogs and 6 jackals were over 5 years of age, and the remaining eight dogs and 14 jackals were 1 to 5 years old. Among the helminths recovered, Dioctophyma renale (Goeze, 1782) was reported separately (Sadighian and Amini, 1967). Of the 13 species of helminths recovered in the survey seven species were found in both the dog and the jackal. Prevalence and worm load of four of the seven species were higher in dogs than in jackals (Table I).