Detection of Intestinal Parasites in Stray Dogs from a Farming and Cattle Region of Northwestern Mexico

Abstract

Stray dogs are one of the main reservoirs of intestinal parasitic infections and some have zoonotic potential. An epidemiological survey was carried out between September 2017 and May 2018 in Mexicali Valley, this area sacrifices around 92,470 head of cattle monthly, which represents 27% of the national slaughter and has 71,307 hectares for crops. In this period the Municipal Animal Control Center during their routine visits to the Mexicali Valley captured 103 dogs. All the dogs were evaluated using copromicroscopic techniques to detect intestinal parasites. The general frequency of parasitic infections was 28.15% (29/103), the most frequent parasite being Dipylidium caninum 16.50% (17/103), followed by Taenia spp. 6.79% (7/103), Taenia hydatigena 2.91% (3/103), Taenia serialis 0.97% (1/103), Taenia pisiformis (0.97%), Toxocara canis 3.88% (4/103), Toxascaris leonina 1.94% (2/103), and Cystoisospora spp. 1.94% (2/103). No significant statistical associations were found between parasitic infections and the studied variables (sex, age, and size) however; there was a significant statistical association with the capture area. Most of the parasites found in this survey have potential to affect the human population and animal production.

Dipylidium caninum Infection in Dogs and Humans in Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia

“…Age, sex, and breed of dogs were not associated with the prevalence of D. caninum infection in the present study. In agreement with this study, other studies have also reported lack of variations in the prevalence of D. caninum in different age groups, and between the sex of dogs [ 33 , 40 , 41 ]. Although there was no statistically significant association, a relatively higher frequency of D. caninum was observed in males, local breeds, and dogs older than one year.…”

“…A lower prevalence ranging from 0.1% ( n = 3099) [ 28 ] to 0.8% ( n = 2193) [ 29 ] was reported in dogs in Brazil, whereas a higher prevalence of up to 75% ( n = 160) was reported in Nigeria [ 30 ]. Some recent studies have reported a prevalence of 4.5% ( n = 200) in Nigeria [ 31 ], 1.9% ( n = 263) in Spain [ 32 ], 16.5% ( n = 103) in stray dogs in Mexico [ 33 ], 11.8% ( n = 152) in Pakistan [ 34 ], 6% ( n = 63) in Portugal [ 35 ], and 3.1% ( n = 360) in stray dogs in Sudan [ 36 ]. The difference in the prevalence of D. caninum infection in dogs in different countries could be attributed to differences in the health care system and management of dogs, geographical areas, environmental sanitation, and the level of flea infestation in dogs [ 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

Dipylidium caninum in the twenty-first century: epidemiological studies and reported cases in companion animals and humans

“…Studies based on coprological methods have obtained a prevalence ranging between zero and 39.1% [ 48 , 97 – 101 ], whereas in necropsy-based studies the prevalence ranged between 0.9 and 83.3% [ 20 , 102 ]. During necropsies, a more detailed analysis is performed, making this method more sensitive and reliable when compared with coprological techniques, as the adult parasites are observed in the small intestine of the animals [ 19 , 29 , 49 , 77 , 78 , 82 , 94 , 103 – 110 ]. Therefore, epidemiological studies on animals based on necropsies will provide a more realistic insight into the prevalence of this cestode in the general population [ 94 , 111 – 114 ].…”

Molecular Confirmation of Massive Taenia pisiformis Cysticercosis in One Rabbit in Poland

“…Canids play a crucial role in transmission of T. pisiformis , therefore, investigations into the detection of this parasite in definitive hosts should be intensified [ 11 ]. The occurrence of T. pisiformis in definitive hosts has been described in most cases in connection with the detection of other parasites [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. In Poland, the presence of this parasite in definitive hosts was detected by PCR during studies on E. multilocularis [ 17 , 18 ].…”