Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs (Canis Familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758) in the Conservation Areas of Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Queen Elizabeth in Uganda
Ikisiri
If not treated, gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) can negatively affect dog fitness, performance, and growth and cause severe sickness and/or death. Dogs harbour parasites responsible for zoonosis, and this is likely to be worst in contiguity to conservation areas having many parasite reservoirs. To understand the dog GIPs status in contiguity to Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas in western Uganda, faecal samples (n = 284) collected from domestic dogs in July 2022 were subjected to parasitological analysis using sodium nitrate floatation and formol-ether sedimentation before microscopic examination. Hookworm-positive samples were further subjected to molecular analysis to aid worm differentiation. A total of 18 parasites were detected, and 258 (90.8%) of the samples tested positive with at least two parasites: protozoa (n=6), trematode (n=1), cestodes (n=3), and nematodes (n=8). All the detected parasites have zoonotic potential and are of public health concern. The most prevalent parasite was Entamoeba coli (56%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (25%) and Trichuris vulpis (21%), and the least prevalent was Diphyllobothrium sp. (4%). There was no significant statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the overall parasite prevalence rate across the study sites and between sexes, but a significant statistical difference (P < 0.05) in the parasite prevalence across age, mode of life, and breed. Some of the recognised parasites, like E. histolytica, Cryptosporidium, Giardia species, and A. caninum are responsible for serious zoonosis and raise the need for awareness on parasite prevention and establishing dog veterinary care services in the study area
Upakuaji
Marejeleo
Abbas, I., Baghdadi, H. B., Rizk, M. A., El-Alfy, E. S., Elmishmishy, B., & Gwida, M. (2023) Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs in Egypt: An Update on the Prevalence in Dakahlia Governorate and a Meta-Analysis for the Published Data from the Country. Animals 13(3), 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030496
Ahmadi, N. A., & Damraj, F. A. (2009) A field evaluation of formalin-gasoline technique in the concentration of stool for detection of intestinal parasites. Parasitology Research 104(3), 553–557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1229-4
Alexander, K. A., & Appel, M. J. G. (1994) African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) endangered by a canine distemper epizootic among domestic dogs near the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 30(4), 481–485.
Ayinmode, A. B., Obebe, O. O., & Olayemi, E. (2016) Prevalence of potentially zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in canine faeces in Ibadan, Nigeria. Ghana Med J 50(4), 201–206. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gmj.v50i4.2
Barirega, A., Buyinza, M., Kansiime, F., & Basuta-isabirye, G. (2010) The Effects of Crop Raiding on Household Food Security in the Albertine Rift : A Case Study of Queen Elizabeth National Park , Western Uganda. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 15, 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200903115070
Bowser, N. H., & Anderson, N. E. (2018) Dogs (Canis familiaris) as sentinels for human infectious disease and application to Canadian populations: a systematic review. Veterinary Sciences 5(4), 83.
Broussard, J. D. (2003) Optimal fecal assessment. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 18(4), 218–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1096-2867(03)00076-8
Butynski, T. M., & Kalina, J. (1993) Three new mountain national parks for Uganda. ORYX 27(4), 214–224. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060530002812X
Chidumayo, N. N. (2018) Epidemiology of canine gastrointestinal helminths in sub-Saharan Africa. Parasites & Vectors 11, 1–7.
Clarke, K., Gorley, R. N., Somerfield, P., & Warwick, R. (2014) Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis.
Clarke, K. R., & Warwick, R. M. (2001) Change in marine communities. An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation 2, 1–68.
Craft, M. E., Vial, F., Miguel, E., Cleaveland, S., Ferdinands, A., & Packer, C. (2015) Interactions between domestic and wild carnivores around the greater Serengeti ecosystem. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12305
Davoust, B., Normand, T., Bourry, O., Dang, H., & Leroy, E. (2008) Epidemiological survey on gastro-intestinal and blood-borne helminths of dogs in north-east Gabon. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 364, 359–364.
Esch G & Fernandez JC (1993) A functional biology of parasitism: Ecological and evolutionary implementations. Chapman and Hall.
Fontanarrosa, F. M., Vezzani, D., Basabe, J., & Eiras, F. D. (2006) An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs from Southern Greater Buenos Aires (Argentina): Age, gender, breed, mixed infections, and seasonal and spatial patterns. Veterinary Parasitology 136, 283–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.11.012
Habluetzel, A., Traldi, G., Ruggieri, S., Attili, A. R., & Scuppa, P. (2003) An estimation of Toxocara canis prevalence in dogs, environmental egg contamination and risk of human infection in the Marche region of Italy. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Exotic Animal Practice 113, 243–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4017(03)00082-7
Haralabidis, S. T., Papazachariadou, M. G., Koutinas, A. F., & Rallis, T. S. (1988) A survey on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece. Journal of Helminthology 62(1), 45–49. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X00011196
Harvey, N. D. (2021) How Old Is My Dog ? Identification of Rational Age Groupings in Pet Dogs Based Upon Normative Age-Linked Processes. Front. Vet. Sci. 8, 6–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.643085
Heukelbach, J., & Walton, S. F. (2005) Ectoparasitic Infestations. Curr. Infect. Dis. Rep. 7(5), 373–380.
Hudson PJ, Rizzoli A, Grenfell BT, Heesterbeek H & Dobson AP (2002) The ecology of wildlife diseases. Oxford University Press.
Inangolet, F. O., Biffa, D., Opuda-Asibo, J., Oloya, J., & Skjerve, E. (2010) Distribution and intensity of Echinococcus granulosus infections in dogs in Moroto District, Uganda. Tropical Animal Health and Production 42(7), 1451–1457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9574-6
Inga, M., Martin, G., Manoj, K. S., Amir, S., & Neil, E. A. (2023) Seroprevalence of canine distemper virus ( CDV ) in the free-roaming dog ( Canis familiaris ) population surrounding Chitwan National. PLoS ONE, Cdv. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281542
Jenkins, E. J., Schurer, J. M., & Gesy, K. M. (2011) Veterinary Parasitology Old problems on a new playing field : Helminth zoonoses transmitted among dogs, wildlife, and people in a changing northern climate. Veterinary Parasitology 182(1), 54–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.07.015
Joshi, M., & Deshpande, J. D. (2011) Polymerase Chain Reaction: Methods, Principles and Application. International Journal of Biomedical Research. https://doi.org/10.7439/ijbr.v2i1.83
Karesh, W. B., Dobson, A., Lloyd-smith, J. O., Lubroth, J., Dixon, M. A., Bennett, M., Aldrich, S., Harrington, T., Formenty, P., Loh, E. H., Machalaba, C. C., Thomas, M. J., & Heymann, D. L. (2012) Ecology of zoonoses: natural and unnatural histories. The Lancet 380, 1936–1945. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61678-X
Kebede, N. (2019) Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and community awareness about zoonotic diseases in Chagni town, northwestern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Veterinary Journal 23(2), 13–26. https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/evj.v23i2.2 Ethiopian
Keesing, F., & Ostfeld, R. S. (2021) Impacts of biodiversity and biodiversity loss on zoonotic diseases. PNAS 118(17), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023540118
Martı´nez-Moreno, F. J., Hernández, S., Lo´pez-Cobos, E., Becerra, C., Acosta, I., & Martı´nez-Moreno, A. (2007) Estimation of canine intestinal parasites in Co (Spain) and their risk to public health. Veterinary Parasitology 143, 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.004
McLennan, M. R., & Plumptre, A. J. (2012) Protected apes, unprotected forest: composition, structure and diversity of riverine forest fragments and their conservation value in Uganda. Tropical Conservation Science 5(1), 79–103. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1177/194008291200500108
Mcneilage, A., Plumptre, A. J., Brock-doyle, A., & Vedder, A. (2001) Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: gorilla census 1997. Oryx 35(1), 39–47.
Mirzayans, A., Eslami, A. H., Anwar, M., & Sanjar, M. (1972) Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in IRAN. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 4, 58–60.
Monica C (2006) District laboratory practice in tropical countries (2nd Ed.). Cambridge: University Press Cambridge.
Ntampaka, P., Niragire, F., Nyaga, P. N., & Habarugira, G. (2021) Canine Gastrointestinal Nematodiases and Associated Risk Factors in Kigali City, Rwanda. Journal of Parasitology Research. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9956256
Ochieng, J. R., Bachs, M. P., Nsubuga, A., Rwego, I. B., Kisakye, J. J. M., Riba, L. M., & Figueres, J. M. (2022) Investigation on Prevalence of Canine Trypanosomiasis in the Conservation Areas of Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth in Western Uganda. Journal of Parasitology Research. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2606871
Palmer, C. S., Thompson, R. C. A., Traub, R. J., Rees, R., & Robertson, I. D. (2008) National study of the gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and cats in Australia. Veterinary Parasitology 151, 181–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.015
Paul, M., King, L., & Carlin, E. P. (1900) Zoonoses of people and their pets : a US perspective on significant pet-associated parasitic diseases. Trends in Parasitology 26(4), 153–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2010.01.008
Perera, P. K., Rajapakse, R. P. V. J., & Rajakaruna, R. S. (2013) Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Hantana area in the Kandy District. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 41(2), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v41i2.5703
Rojekittikhun, W., Chaisiri, K., Mahittikorn, A., Pubampen, S., Sa-nguankiat, S., Kusolsuk, T., Maipanich, W., Udonsom, R., & Mori, H. (2014) Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs and cats in a refuge in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 45(1), 31–39.
Rothman, J. M., Plumptre, A. J., Dierenfeld, E. S., & Pell, A. N. (2007) Nutritional composition of the diet of the gorilla (Gorilla beringei): a comparison between two montane habitats. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23(6), 673–682. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1017/S0266467407004555
Sarvi, S., Daryani, A., Sharif, M., Rahimi, M. T., & Kohansal, M. H. (2018) Zoonotic intestinal parasites of carnivores: A systematic review in Iran. Veterinary World 11, 58–65. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2018.58-65
Schantz, M. P., & Glickman, T. L. (2010) Current Concepts in Parasitology: Toxocaral Visceral Larva Migrans. Medical Intelligence. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197802232980806
Shannon, C. E. (1948) A Mathematical Theory of Communication. Bell System Technical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1538-7305.1948.tb01338.x
Smyth JD, & Wakelin D (1994) Introduction to Animal Parasitology. Cambridge University Press.
Soulsby EJL (1968) Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals.
Sowemimo, O. A. (2009) The prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Journal of Helminthology 83(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X08067229
Tannen, D. (2004) Talking the Dog: Framing Pets as Interactional Resources in Family Discourse. Research on Language & Social Interaction 37(4), 37–41. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327973rlsi3704_1
Taylor MA, Coop RL, & Wall RL. (2016) Veterinary Parasitology (4th ed). John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, M. R. H. (2017) The epidemiology of ocular toxocariasis. Journal of Helminthology 75(2), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.1079/JOH200175
Traub, R. J., Robertson, I. D., Irwin, P., Mencke, N., & Thompson, R. C. A. (2002) The role of dogs in transmission of gastrointestinal parasites in a remote tea-growing community in northeastern India. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 67(5), 539–545.
Verster, A. (1979) Gastro-intestinal helminths of domestic dogs in the Republic of South Africa. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 82, 79–82.
Verweij, J. J., Pit, D. S. S., Van Lieshout, L., Baeta, S. M., Dery, G. D., Gasser, R. B., & Polderman, A. M. (2001) Determining the prevalence of Oesophagostomum bifurcum and Necator americanus infections using specific PCR amplification of DNA from faecal samples. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 6(9), 726–731. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00770.x
Wallace P & Gilles MH (1995) Colour atlas of tropical medicine and parasitology (4th ed.). Times Mirror International Publishers Limited.
Wyckliff, N., Kitaa, J., Thaiyah, A., Maingi, N., Muriuki, J. B., & Chepkirui, E. (2017) Coprological Study to Determine the Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthes in Dogs of Nairobi, Kenya- A Potential Zoonotic Threat. International Journal of Veterinary Science and Research 3, 25–29. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.17352/ijvsr.000019 CC By Ngetich
Copyright (c) 2025 James Robert Ochieng, Marta Planellas Bachs, Anthony Mutebi Nsubuga, Innocent B. Rwego, Benard Matovu, Simon Peter Lowopek, Jaume Gardela, Jesus Muro Figueres, John Joseph M. Kisakye
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
