The prevalence of the helminth parasites of stray dogs in Ismailia City

Abstract

In a study on parasites of stray dogs in Ismailia City, 50 stray dogs of different sexes and ages were humanely euthanized, necropsied and examined for helminth parasites. Twenty helminthes (14 trematodes, two cestodes and four nematodes) were detected. The total prevalence of helminthes was 100% with trematodes (36%), cestodes (100%) and nematodes (34%). Of the recorded 14 trematodes, Pygidiopsis summa and Ascocotyle rara were recorded for the first time in Ismailia Province and this may be the first time to be recorded among the Egyptian dogs. The most prevalent trematode was Pygidiopsis genata (20%). The detected cestodes were Dipylidium caninum (100%) and Taenia hydatigena (10%). The recovered nematodes were Toxocara canis (20%), Toxascaris leonina (10%), Spirocerca lupi (10%) and Rictularia affinis (8%). There was a highly significant difference (p 0.05) in the prevalence of the detected helminthes in relation to the sex of dogs. Histopathological examination of lungs and oesophagus of dogs infested with Spirocerca lupi revealed chronic pneumonia and pulmonary alveolar emphysema, also granulation tissue formation and early stage of fibroma were found in oesophagus. All necropsied dogs were infected with at least one zoonotic helminth parasites. From this study, it could be concluded that stray dogs in Ismailia City carry a multitude helminth parasites, thus posing a risk for the human population and companion dogs.