Gastrointestinal parasites in shelter dogs in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran: prevalence and mini review in Iran and some neighboring countries.

Dogs serve as definitive or intermediate hosts for some protozoan and helminth parasites, some of which are of zoonotic, and others cause severe infectious diseases in other animals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in shelter dogs in Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. A total of 323 fecal samples were randomly collected from shelter dogs in Mashhad and Neyshabur areas. All samples were then transferred to the Parasitology Laboratory and examined detect intestinal protozoa and helminths using the formalin-ether technique. Out of the 323 fecal samples, 92 (28.48%) tested positive for intestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites in shelter dogs in Mashhad and Neyshabur areas were 23.83 and 35.38%, respectively. Monospecific infection was found in 19.50% of dogs, while concurrent infection with two or more species was seen in 8.97% of dogs. The frequencies of the nine detected parasites were as follows: <i>Sarcocystis</i> sp<i>.</i> 12.38%, <i>Giardia</i> sp. 4.64%, <i>Cystoisospora</i> sp. 2.78%<i>, Hammondia Neospora-like</i> oocysts 2.16%, <i>Taenia</i> sp. 6.19%, <i>Toxascaris leonina</i> 7.43%, <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> 1.54%, <i>Toxocara canis</i> 0.92% and <i>Capillaria</i> sp. 0.30%. The results of this study showed the high frequency of intestinal parasites in shelter dogs. To control important zoonotic helminthic diseases such as echinococcosis and toxocariasis, it is recommended to eliminate stray dogs in cooperation with municipalities and veterinary departments in Iran. If stray dogs are transferred to shelters, they should receive regular treatment with effective anti-helminthic drugs.