SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS OF DOGS IN ZARIA
SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS OF DOGS IN ZARIA
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Date
1990-12
Authors
DAN AKUKA, YARKASUWA ADAWA
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Abstract
A survey and management of parasites of dogs presented to the Small Animal
Clinic of the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were carried out for
a period of one year (March 1988 to February, 1989). Out of the 387 dogs examined. 360
(93.03%) had external parasites. Ticks were the commonest of the external parasites (330
dogs) with Rhipicephalus sanguineus being the commonest (291 dogs). The other external
parasites included Haemaphysalis leachi (31 dogs), Amblyomma variegatum (7 dogs),
Rhipicephalus appendlculatus (1 dog), Ctenocophalid.es felis (23 dogs), Sarcoptes scabiei
var. cants (6 dogs), Cordylobla anthropophaga (15 dogs), Linognathus setosus (2 dogs) and
Menacanthus stramthus (1 dog). The back, interdigital spaces, ears, neck and to a lesser
extent, the head, chest and abdomen were the predilection sites for ticks. The neck and
head were the predilection sites for mites, while fleas and lice were mainly seen on the
back. Maggots of Cordylobia were mainly observed on the chest, abdomen and interdigital
spaces.
Of the 387 dogs surveyed, 205 (53%) had haemoparasites and 221 (57%) had
gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites. The haemoparasites Included Hapatozoon cants (105
cogs), Babesia canis (62 dogs), Ehrlichia canis (28 dogs) and microfilaria of Dipetalonema
neconditum (10 dogs). The haemoparasites were more prevalent in local than in exotic and
mixed breeds of dogs. The GIT parasites included Ancylostoma caninum (135 dogs),
Taenia spp (32 dogs), Toxocara canis (19 dogs), Toxoascaris leonina (7 dogs), Capillaria
spp (5 dogs), Dipylidium caninum (7 dogs), Trichuris spp (1 dog) and Isospora spp (12
dogs). Fewer helminths were recovered from the exotic breeds compared with local or the
mixed breeds of dogs. A single subcutaneous ivermectin injection at a dose of 400
meg/kg resulted in 96-100% efficacy against infestation with external parasites, however
three treatments were required to eliminate Demodex canis infestation. The drug
prevented re-infestation with those parasites for 7-28 days. Similar impressive results
were obtained when the same dose of the drug was given to dogs with microfilarie and
GIT parasites. However, the drug was only weakly effective against T. canis infection and
was completely ineffective against Isospora and tapeworm infections. It was concluded
that external and internal parasites are still highly prevalent in dogs of Zaria area. It was
also concluded that ivermectin is safe and broadspectrum in activity against the common
external parasites and parasitic nematodes of dogs in Zaria.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE (VETERINARY MEDICINE)
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SURGERY AND MEDICINE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
DECEMBER, 1990
Keywords
SURVEY,, MANAGEMENT,, PARASITIC,, INFECTIONS,, DOGS IN ZARIA