Intestinal helminths of dogs in Samarkand and the Samarkand region and their epidemiological significance

BACKGROUND: Dogs can be a source of various diseases for humans. The study of the helminth fauna of domestic and neglected dogs allows us to assess their danger to humans as a source of infection.

AIMS: To study the intestinal helminth fauna of domestic and neglected dogs living in the city of Samarkand and adjacent areas of the Samarkand region and to assess their epidemiological significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 112 dogs of different ages from Samarkand and the surrounding area were examined. 45 animals were examined by the method of incomplete helminthological autopsy; diagnostic deworming was performed in 12 priotarny dogs; in 55 dogs, feces were examined once by the Fulleborn method.

RESULTS: In the examined dogs, 4 types of cestodes and 4 types of nematodes were found in the intestines. The most common type was dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum). The extent of invasion (EI) is 73.7%, the intensity of invasion (AI) is 5–56 copies. Taenia hydatigena tapeworm was detected during preventive deworming in 5 animals out of 12 (41.7%), and at autopsy in 18 dogs out of 45 (40%), AI 1–4 copies. The tapeworm of Echinicoccus granulosus was found in the autopsy of one dog out of 45 (EI 4.4%, AI-more than 350 copies). Mesocestoides lineatus cestodes were observed in the autopsy of 3 dogs (EI 6.7%, AI 1–2 copies). Trichuris (Trichocephalus) vulpis lived in the caecum of 20 dissected animals (EI 88%, AI 5–23 copies). During coproscopy of feces of 55 dogs, whipworm eggs were found in 25 animals (45.5%). Males and females of Toxocara canis were found in the intestines during autopsy of 5 animals (EI 22%, AI 2–4 copies). Eggs Toxocara coproscopy found in the feces of dogs 9 out of 55 (16.4 percent). The EI of the nematode Toxascaris leonina averaged 14.0%. AI 1–3 copies. The nematode Pterygodermatites (Rictularia) affinis was found in the singular (male) in the duodenum of one dissected dog.

CONCLUSIONS: In domestic and neglected dogs living in the territory of Samarkand and the Samarkand region, it was possible to establish the presence of 8 species of intestinal helminths, of which three species are dangerous to humans and have important epidemiological significance: E. granulosus, D. caninum and T. canis.