Point Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Dogs in and around Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Point prevalence of naturally occurring gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism was studied in dogs in and around Kolkata.The study consisted of age-wise and sex-wise prevalence including the intensity of infection.A total of 250 dogs of either sexes were coprologically screened from the month of May, 2023 to December, 2023.All the animals were divided into two groups i.e. below 1 year of age and above 1 year of age.The overall prevalence of GI parasitic infection was 19.60% in dogs under the present study.Nematodes (Toxocara and Ancylostoma), cestodes (Dipylidium caninum and Diphyllobothrium) and protozoa (Isospora) were recorded in the present study.Prevalence of Toxocara and Ancylostoma was comparatively higher than other parasites in dogs.The overall intensity of infection in terms of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) was 1358.83 500.50.Prevalence as well as intensity of GI parasitic infection, was found to be higher in dogs below 1 year of age (20.98%;EPG = 1526.66 555.83) than the adult dogs (13.33%;EPG = 687.50 279.17) and similarly it was higher in male (20.66%;EPG =1611.43 635.24) than the female dogs (18%; EPG = 769.44 186.11).The present study indicated a moderate level of GI parasitic infection in dogs in which younger and male dogs were more susceptible.Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma (hookworm) having zoonotic importance, were prevalent, which requires general public awareness to adopt preventive measures, particularly in children.