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Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths among dogs from Northeastern Nigeria: a potential public health concern

  • Helminthology - Short Communication
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Abstract

Understanding the epidemiology of canine parasitic infections, gastrointestinal helminthic infections in particular, is crucial for designing an efficient control programs targeted at minimizing the risks of zoonotic transmission. A total of 470 dogs attending veterinary clinics in Northeastern Nigeria were screened for gastrointestinal helminths using standard parasitological techniques. Epidemiological risk factors associated with the canine parasitic infections were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. In total, 77.9% (366/470) of dogs had harboured one or more species of the gastrointestinal helminths: Ancylostoma caninum (40.2%), Toxocara canis (35.1%) Trichuris vulpis (26.6%), Spirocerca lupi (5.7%), Taenia/Echinococcus (12.3%), Dipylidium caninum (10.9%) and Diphyllobothriid ova (2.8%). Female dogs (OR=2.1; p=0.02), local breeds (OR=2.3; p<0.01), younger dogs (OR=3.2; p<0.001), dogs adopted as security guards (OR=1.8; p<0.01) and poor body condition score (OR=3.1; p<0.001) were strongly associated with A. caninum infection. For T. canis and T. vulpis, younger dogs (OR=2.5; p=0.02 and OR=2.3; p<0.01) and poor body condition score (OR=4.2; p<0.001 and OR=2.2; p<0.01) were the strong predictors for infection, whereas female dogs (OR=2.8; p=0.02), younger dogs (OR=4.1; p<0.001) and poor body condition score (OR=4.0; p<0.001) were strongly associated with D. caninum infection in dogs. The results revealed high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths—some of which have zoonotic potential—among dogs underlying huge public health risk.

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Acknowledgements

The assistance from dog owners and their subsequent approvals for the research to be conducted on their dogs are highly appreciated. The authors also wish to express their appreciation to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Nomadic Affairs, Gombe state. We are equally grateful to the para-veterinary staff of both the Pantami and Dukku veterinary clinics for restraining of dogs and assisting with sampling as well as the entire technical staff of the Microbiology and Entomology Diagnostic Laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau state, North Central Nigeria.

Funding

This project was funded by the Gombe State Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Nomadic Affairs, Nigeria. The funding body did not influence the preparation, results interpretation and subsequent revision of the whole manuscript for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria

    Saleh Mohammed Jajere

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria

    Jallailudeen Rabana Lawal

  3. Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B 2254, Sokoto, Sokoto state, Nigeria

    Aminu Shittu

  4. Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Nomadic Affairs, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria

    Ibrahim Waziri

  5. Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Dauda Mohammed Goni

  6. FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, United Nations office in Nairobi, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya

    Folorunso Oludayo Fasina

Authors
  1. Saleh Mohammed Jajere
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  2. Jallailudeen Rabana Lawal
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  3. Aminu Shittu
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  4. Ibrahim Waziri
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  5. Dauda Mohammed Goni
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  6. Folorunso Oludayo Fasina
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Correspondence to Saleh Mohammed Jajere.

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Section Editor: Abdul Jabbar

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Jajere, S.M., Lawal, J.R., Shittu, A. et al. Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths among dogs from Northeastern Nigeria: a potential public health concern. Parasitol Res 121, 2179–2186 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07538-z

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