A survey of gastrointestinal helminth of stray dogs in Zabol city, southeastern of Iran

Canids are reservoir for some zoonoses helminthic disease. They are one of main public health problem. The aim of this study was to ascertain frequency of gastrointestinal helminthic infection of stray dogs in Zabol city, southeaster of Iran. In this descriptive study, 30 stray dogs were euthanized, intestine was removed by necropsy. Then, the intestines was opened by scalpel and their contents passed through mesh sieve. The helminth were collected. The nematodes were preserved in 70% ethanol with 5% glycerin and cestodes were preserved in 70% ethanol. The cestodes were stained by acetocarmine. The nematodes were cleared by lactophenol. The genus and species of helminth were identified by identification keys. Twenty tow (73.3%) of stray dogs had at least one intestinal helminthic infection. Recovered helminth from stray dogs include: Taenia hydatigena, Taenia ovis, Taenia multiceps, Mesocestoides spp, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati. Data showed that the stray dogs in Zabol city harbor some important zoonoses helminth parasite like Toxocara.