Abstract
Toxocara canis is a globally distributed zoonotic parasite. The parasite has recently become a concern for public health in Vietnam. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify and quantify the risk factors associated with T. canis infection in dogs in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The risk factors were identified using a mixed-effects logistic regression model and quantified using population attributable fractions. Examination of fecal samples collected from 1455 dogs using the sodium nitrate flotation technique showed 37.32% (95% CI: 34.83–39.86) of dogs infected with T. canis. The factors, including study location, multiple dogs living in a household, dog age, dog breed, and places keeping dogs were associated with a dog’s likelihood of being T. canis infection. The household and individual dog levels contributed 17% and 82%, respectively, to the prevalence of T. canis in dogs. The adjusted population attributable fraction for confining dogs and raising an individual dog per household was 52% and 27%, respectively. The result of this study indicated that to minimize the burden of T. canis, intervention measures should target individual dogs and household levels.
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Acknowledgements
This research was self-funded with in-kind support from the Tay Nguyen University, Dak Lak, Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam. The authors thank veterinary staff at village for assisting us with the fieldwork.
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This research was self-funded with in-kind support from village veterinarians in Dak Lak, Vietnam.
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Dinh Ng-Nguyen contributed to design the study, analyze data, and write the paper. Van-Anh Thi Nguyen contributed to investigate the study and improve the manuscript.
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Ethics approval for this study was granted through the Tay Nguyen University Animal Ethics Committee (ID: KCNTY-022021), and all procedures were carried out in accordance with the approved guidelines. Informed and voluntary verbal consent was obtained from dog owners prior to their participation.
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Ng-Nguyen, D., Nguyen, V.A.T. A cross-sectional study to quantify the prevalence of Toxocara canis in dogs in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Parasitol Res 123, 133 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08157-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08157-6