Seasonal dynamics of helminth infection in dogs from Dagestan lowlands

Abstract

Objective of research: To study the infestation of stray dogs and dogs kept in city apartments in Dagestan depending on the year season. Materials and methods: Seasonal dynamics of helminth infection in dogs from lowlands of Dagestan were studied in 2015-2016. Stray dogs and dogs kept in apartments and houses with yards (dogs of both sexes, different ages and conditions of feeding and management) were subject of research. Totally 300 fecal samples collected from dogs were investigated and 30 dogs underwent autopsy. Soils from home yards and territories around landfills, cages, and kennels were also examined for the prevalence of helminth eggs. Research was conducted in all year seasons. Extensity and intensity of invasion was estimated during small intestine dissection. In our work, we used the methods of full helminthological dissection, sequential washings, flotation with the use of saturated solution of ammonium nitrate, and Berman-Orlov method of larvoscopy. The results obtained during the experiment were statistically processed. Result and discussion: In the plain zone of Dagestan, the amount of stray dogs kept in yards and apartments ranged from 18 to 26 thousand. It was found that the dogs are infected with helminths more frequent in summer and autumn and slightly less in spring and winter. Stray dogs of the plain zone of Dagestan are infected with 12 helminth species, dogs kept in apartments with 5 species (EI 6,6-53,3 %, II 2-60,0 ind./head, 6,6-26,6 % and 2,0-13,0 ind./head, respectively). From the epizootological point of view, all helminth species are dangerous. Metorchis xanthosomus, Echinococcus granulosus, Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara canis, Tosascaris leonina cause zoonotic infections. T.hydatigena, E.granulosus, D.caninum, T.canis, T.leonina are dominating year round in helminth fauna complex. In this connection, annual monitoring of epizootological situation is very important to predict the danger and implement the science-based methods to combat helminth infections.