ABSTRACT:

Epidemiological investigation of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs (Canis familiaris) was carried out at Ijurin and Ikosu communities in Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria. Two hundred faecal samples were collected using long forceps and processed by the Kato-Katz technique. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites observed was 69.2%. Seven gastrointestinal parasites were identified out of which Ancyclostoma caninum had the highest prevalence and intensity (39.1%; 44.2±27.7 epg) followed by Toxocara canis (21.0%; 24.5±17.8 epg), Taenea hydatigena (11.5%; 21.7±15.6 epg, Trichuris vulpis (7.0%; 7.5±4.3 epg), Toxascaris spp., (6.7%; 7.5±20.5 epg), Uncinaria stenocephala (5.4%; 5.2±2.3 epg), and Dipylidium caninum (4.1%; 10.5.2±8.1 epg). Infections with two to three parasites were observed in 35.5% of the infected dogs. Risk factors for gastrointestinal helminth infections were identified and highlighted. In conclusion, the high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes infection observed in these dogs is a clear indication of the occurrence of parasitic infection and there is urgent need to initiate control programme aimed at eliminating the parasites in these communities.