<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction:</bold> Dogs harbour zoonotic parasites that cause serious infections in humans, such as visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, cystic echinococcosis, and alveolar echinococcosis. Studies on dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites in different geographical locations are required to increase knowledge of the risk of canine zoonoses in human populations.<bold>Material and Methods:</bold> The presence of parasites was examined in 450 faecal samples collected from eight zones of Zanjan province, northwest Iran from June to November 2015. The samples were examined using the sedimentation concentration method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining.<bold>Results:</bold> Gastrointestinal parasites were found in 86 (19.1%) faecal samples. <italic>Sarcocystis</italic> spp. (7.3%), <italic>Taenia/Echinococcus</italic> spp. (5.6%), <italic>Toxocara</italic> spp. (1.8%), and <italic>Cystoisospora</italic> spp. (1.6%) were the most common parasites observed. The other detected parasites consisted of <italic>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</italic> (0.7%), <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. (0.7%), <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> spp. (0.4%), <italic>Physaloptera</italic> spp. (0.4%), <italic>Giardia</italic> spp. (1.3%), and <italic>Spirocerca lupi</italic> (1.3%). The lowest parasite infection rates belonged to <italic>Trichuris vulpis</italic> and <italic>Acanthocephalans</italic> (0.2% each).<bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study provides current information on the infection rates in dog populations in Zanjan Province. Furthermore, the study shows a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections, including zoonotic ones and particularly <italic>Taenia/Echinococcus</italic> spp., potentially transmissible to humans and thus relevant to public health.</abstract>

Introduction: Dogs harbour zoonotic parasites that cause serious infections in humans, such as visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, cystic echinococcosis, and alveolar echinococcosis. Studies on dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites in different geographical locations are required to increase knowledge of the risk of canine zoonoses in human populations.Material and Methods: The presence of parasites was examined in 450 faecal samples collected from eight zones of Zanjan province, northwest Iran from June to November 2015. The samples were examined using the sedimentation concentration method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining.Results: Gastrointestinal parasites were found in 86 (19.1%) faecal samples. Sarcocystis spp. (7.3%), Taenia/Echinococcus spp. (5.6%), Toxocara spp. (1.8%), and Cystoisospora spp. (1.6%) were the most common parasites observed. The other detected parasites consisted of Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.7%), Eimeria spp. (0.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (0.4%), Physaloptera spp. (0.4%), Giardia spp. (1.3%), and Spirocerca lupi (1.3%). The lowest parasite infection rates belonged to Trichuris vulpis and Acanthocephalans (0.2% each).Conclusion: This study provides current information on the infection rates in dog populations in Zanjan Province. Furthermore, the study shows a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections, including zoonotic ones and particularly Taenia/Echinococcus spp., potentially transmissible to humans and thus relevant to public health.

Dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites and their association with public health in Iran

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction: Dogs harbour zoonotic parasites that cause serious infections in humans, such as visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, cystic...

Dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites and their association with public health in Iran

Published Online: Jun 12, 2017

Page range: 189 - 195

Received: Jan 12, 2017

Accepted: May 12, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2017-0024

Keywords
dog, gastrointestinal parasites, zoonoses, public health, Iran

© 2017 Mohammad Hasan Kohansal et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Dogs’ gastrointestinal parasites and their association with public health in Iran

Published Online: Jun 12, 2017

Page range: 189 - 195

Received: Jan 12, 2017

Accepted: May 12, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jvetres-2017-0024

Keywordsdog, gastrointestinal parasites, zoonoses, public health, Iran

© 2017 Mohammad Hasan Kohansal et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
dog, gastrointestinal parasites, zoonoses, public health, Iran