Research Article
Luis Enrique Jerez Puebla,
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections in dogs represent a major concern in developing countries as they are important definitive or reservoir hosts for several zoonotic parasites. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in stray dogs and domestic dogs in the municipality of la Lisa, in La Havana, between June 2014 to March 2015. A total of 97 faecal samples from 56 stray dogs and 41 household dogs were examined by parasitological concentration techniques. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 44.3% (95% CI: 33.9-54.7). Ancylostoma caninum (21.6%), Trichuris vulpis (16.5) and Giardia duodenlis (7.2%) were the most prevalent intestinal parasites identified in canine faecal samples, indicating an important faecal contamination of the analyzed area. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and the kind of dog analyzed. However stray dogs were associated with a higher risk of infection as well as those older than 1 year old. This information may be useful in the implementation of effective prevention and control programmes by the National Group of Zoonosis in our country. Appropriate public health education for dog’s owners is necessary to reduce the risks of zoonotic infections