Resumen

TORTOLERO LOW, Leonardo José; CAZORLA PERFETTI, Dalmiro José; MORALES MORENO, Pedro  y  ACOSTA QUINTERO, María Eugenia. Prevalence of Enteric Parasites in Domiciliary Dogs From La Vela City, Falcon State, Venezuela. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.3, pp.312-319. ISSN 0798-2259.

Many intestinal protozoa and helminthes species are pathogenic for domestic animals, including dogs, and several of them provide a source of potential infestation for humans. During July and August 2006, a total of 255 dogs with owner (148 females and 107 males) were surveyed in the community of La Vela, Falcon State, Venezuela. Parasitological examination was made by employing direct, and Willis-Molloy (NaCl) and Faust (zinc sulphate) flotation methods. One or more intestinal protozoa and/or helminthes were found in 195 (76.47%) of the examined dogs. Monoparasitism and multiparasitism (up to 3 parasitic species) was observed in 78.46 and 21.54% of the dogs, respectively. Ancylostomídeos (45.88%), Toxocara canis (31.77%) and Cystoisospora spp. (14.90%) were the most prevalents intestinal parasites. There was not a significant association between the prevalence of any intestinal parasites and canine age groups neither between sexes. Most of dog owners were in poverty (>70%). A significant association was found between prevalences of T. canis [X²=24.7; Odds Ratio (OR) = 6.79; P=0.00001], Ancylostoma spp./Uncinaria spp. (X²= 34.49; OR=7.64; P=0.00001) and Cystoisospora spp. (X²= 10.25; OR=5.91; P=0.01) and socioeconomic status. 89.41% of the dogs were mongrel. A statistically significant association was detected between prevalences of T. canis (X²=13.97; OR= 4.45; P=0.00001) and Ancylostoma spp./Uncinaria spp. (X²= 5.25; OR=2.61; P=0.02) and the animal breeds. Surveillance sanitary programs and health education are recommended in order to control and prevent of these zoonotic protozoa and helmintic parasitoses

Palabras clave : Dogs; intestinal parasites; prevalence; Venezuela.