Taeniasis in non-descript dogs in Ngorongoro, Tanzania: Prevalence and predisposing factors

Abstract

The prevalence of taeniasis was determined during the period January to April 2013 in a cross-sectional study of non-descript domestic dogs from the livestock–wildlife ecosystem of Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Taeniid eggs were determined by screening faecal samples using the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Predisposing factors for dog infection were assessed in relation to demographic, husbandry and management data. Of the 205 faecal samples screened, 150 (73.2%) were positive for taeniid eggs. The prevalence of dogs harbouring taeniid eggs was 80%, 30.2% and 75.3% in the less than 1 year, 1–3 years and greater than 3 years of age groups, respectively. Age group and sex prevalence in dogs did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), although the females showed a marginally higher prevalence (73.8%) in comparison to the males (72.7%). Taeniid eggs were significantly more likely to be found in the faeces of dogs located in Waso (80.6%) and Endulen (75%) than in Malambo (63.2%, P < 0.05). The study revealed that dogs owned and raised by agro-pastoralists were at a lower risk of acquiring Taenia spp. infection (P = 0.001) than those that were raised by pastoralists. The majority of dog owners were not aware of the predisposing factors and the mode of transmission of taeniids. Dogs were frequently fed on viscera, trimmings and the heads of slaughtered animals, and they were not treated for parasitic infections. The findings of this study indicate that taeniasis is prevalent among non-descript dogs in Ngorongoro, underscoring the need for further research and active surveillance to better understand the transmission cycle of Taenia spp. in a wider geographical area in Tanzania.

Prevalence of echinococcosis and Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis in slaughtered small ruminants at the livestock-wildlife interface areas of Ngorongoro, Tanzania

“…Although the prevalence was lower compared to the findings by Ernest et al . [ 25 ], still the prevalence suggests the possibility that hydatidosis is of public health importance in this study area and that some of the taeniid eggs recovered from the feces of dogs in the previous study may be eggs of Echinococcus species [ 26 ].…”

Prevalence and factors associated with taeniid infection among owned dogs in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

“…Low taeniid prevalence of 0.25% among domestic dogs in Europe (Dyachenko et al, 2008); 5.6% among stray dogs in Iran (Kohansal et al, 2017) and 8.0% among sheep dogs in England (Phythian et al, 2018) have been reported. However, higher prevalence of 11.07 % among stray dogs in Iran (Mirbadie et al, 2018); 14.9 % among dogs from farming communities in Uganda (Oba et al, 2016); 34.4% among farm dogs in China (Guo et al, 2014); 56.7 % among trade dogs in Plateau State, Nigeria (Karshima et al,2017); and 73.2% among village dogs with presence of slaughter slabs in Tanzania (Swai et al, 2016) have also been reported. The low prevalence of taeniid infection obtained in this study may be because the dogs were owned and mostly as pets or for security.…”

“…The low prevalence of taeniid infection obtained in this study may be because the dogs were owned and mostly as pets or for security. Street roaming (Swai et al, 2016), access to cysts of taeniidae in intermediate hosts (Oba et al, 2016) and poor or lack of deworming (Swai et al, 2016) have been associated with increase prevalence of taeniid infection. Though, taeniid infection was low among owned dogs in Ibadan, its prevalence calls for adequate attention to regular proper deworming of owned dogs and other preventive measures in order to prevent accidental infection in their owners.…”

“…In practice, often times treatment of dogs for taeniid infection commences at this simple diagnostic stage. The prevalence of taeniid eggs in dogs' faeces is reported to be from as low as 0.25% to as high as 73.2% in different parts of the world (Dyachenko et al, 2008;Beiromvand et al, 2013;Swai et al, 2016;Kohansal et al, 2017) There is suspected presence of human echinococcosis in Nigeria (WHO, 2011). Few previous studies have attempted to report the prevalence of echinococcus or taeniid infections in stray dogs in Nigeria (Dada et al, 1979;Arene & Nweke, 1985;Ugochukwu & Ejimadu, 1985;Adediran et al, 2014).…”

Prevalence of Taeniid Eggs in the Faeces of Domesticated and Free-roaming Dogs in Basrah, Iraq, and the Knowledge of Dog Owners on Cystic Echinococcosis

“…(87%) was also observed in stray dogs from Kalar city of Sulaimani province (north governorate of Iraq) [44]. Studies conducted in other countries where taeniid tapeworms are endemic have also reported high prevalences: for example 34.4% in farm dogs from Xinghai county of Qinghai Province of China that attributed to neglect deworming dogs with praziquantel and lack of education programme to the dogs owners [45]; and 73.3% in domestic dogs from Ngorongoro (northern Tanzania) which are attributed to less awareness of the dog owners toward proper management and practices of their animals [46].…”