Abstract:
One hundred and sixty-four faecal samples, 148 adhesive tape swabs and
132 blood samples were collected from dogs in Boksburg, Gauteng, to
assess the prevalence of helminth parasites in the area. Sixty-nine of
these dogs were also necropsied and helminths recovered from the
gastro-intestinal tracts. Ancylostoma caninum was the most common
helminth and was present in 88% of the dogs, followed by Dipylidium
caninum in 39% of dogs, Toxocara canis in 36%, Ancylostoma braziliense
in 20%, Spirocerca lupi in 14%, Toxascaris leonina in 9%, Trichuris
vulpis in 6%, Joyeuxiella pascualei in 6% and Taenia spp. in 4%.
Microfilariae of Dipetalonema reconditum were found in 2% of the blood
samples. The results of this study extend the geographic distribution of
T. vulpis. With the exception of Spirocerca and Dipetalonema, all
these helminths are potentially zoonotic, and may pose a threat to
community health.
