Prevalence of Helminths in Dogs in the Region of Van and Their Potential Public Health Significance

Abstract

This study was performed in order to determine the prevalence of helminth infections among dogs and to emphasize the importance of this concept for public health. All selected dogs were from the city of Van and a total of 115 fecal samples were examined. Of these, 61 were from stray dogs, 26 were breeders and the final 28 dogs were dogs belonging to institutions. All samples were examined in the laboratory of the parasitology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University. Fulleborn's flotation method was used. Sixty nine (60.0%) of the dogs were found to be infected by one or more helminth species. Two Cestoda species and 4 Nematoda species were detected. Toxascaris leonina (23.5%), Taenia spp. (14.8%), Ancylostoma caninum (8.7%), Dipylidium caninum (3.5%), Uncinaria stenocephala (0.9%) and Toxocara canis (13.9%) were responsible for infections. Although the rates of infection between stray (59.0%) and official dogs (46.4%) was not significant, the rate was statistically significant according to Duncan's t-test ( < 0.05) in breeder dogs as compared to the previous 2 groups. The results show that helminth infection in dogs in Van is very high. The high prevalence of T. canis, Taenia spp., and A. caninum in dogs in Van is considered to be critical from the view point of public health importance. In conclusion, helminth infection of dogs is still a very serious problem for public health in Van.