Comparison of gastrointestinal parasites in stray dogs from Tabriz suburb with domestic dogs from Tabriz

There are many zoonotic diseases between humans and animals that can be a threat to human health. These include gastrointestinal parasites in pets such as dogs and cats.

Because of the temperate climate in Tabriz city, severe parasitic infections have been reported in animals of the region. These parasitic infections need further epidemiological study and identification of different species, to eradicate various parasitic diseases.

July 2016 to March 2017, 63 stray dogs and 63 domestic dogs from Tabriz city were sampled. Then, using the flotation method, eggs and parasite cysts were identified in infected dogs.

By examining the eggs of parasites that were isolated from the feces of stray and domestic dogs, Toxocara in stray dogs with 49.20% and hookworms in domestic dogs with 14.28% had the highest rate of infection, and the lowest rate of infection in stray dogs was related to Cryptosporidium with 7.93%.

According to this study, a lower parasitic infection rate was observed in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic dogs. These results refer to the importance of an appropriate living environment, healthy nutrition, and an anti-parasite treatment program. Attention to these issues in the clinic leads the veterinarian to the correct diagnosis.