Parasitic Fauna of Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris Dom.) of the Modern Metropolis of Tashkent

Abstract

The purpose of the research is a comprehensive study of the fauna of endo- and ectoparasites of dogs (Canis familiaris dom.) of the modern metropolis of Tashkent and their health and sanitary and veterinary importance.

Materials and methods. The collection of material was made from March 2016 till June 2018 in the territory of Tashkent. The dogs were examined during all seasons of year. In total 160 domestic dogs were examined. Collection of helminthes, insects and arachnids was carried out according to the known methods. The study and species identification of the parasites collected was carried out in the laboratory of General Parasitology of the Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. To identify quantitative characteristics of the dogs’ parasites, the intensity and extensiveness of invasion were determined.

Results and discussion. It was detected that a domestic dog of the modern metropolis of Tashkent has 21 species of helminthes belonging to the following three classes – Cestoda, Acanthocephala and Nematoda. Ectoparasites are represented by 16 species belonging to two classes – Arachnida and Insecta. The total infection rate of dog populations with helminthes made 93.7%, with ticks 65.6% and with insects 53.7%. The distribution of parasite communities depends on the specific ecological characteristics of the structure and functional features of the metropolis zones. Together with a dog its parasites such as ticks, fleas, lice, and blood sucking two-winged insects enter the urban environment, some of them can parasitize in humans. This explains the role of ectoparasites of dogs in the occurrence of parasitic diseases not only in other domestic animals, but also in humans.