Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of dogs in Dschang, Cameroon

Faecal samples from 131 household dogs were examined for gastrointestinal helminth parasites using the simple floatation method. 116 (88.5%) of the dogs were found infected with one or more of the following parasite species: Toxocara canis (34.35%), Ancylostoma caninum (73.28%), Ancylostoma braziliense ( 14.50%), Uncinaria stenocephala (26.72%), Trichuris vulpis (8.40%), Capillaria aerophila (3.82%), Strongyloides stercoralis (11.45%), Dipylidium caninum (6.11%), Mesocestoides lineatus (3.82) and Taenia spp.(1.53%). These parasites occurred either as single or multiple infections, the most prevalent being the double species infection (32.83%). The results of this study are of epidemiological importance in view of the role dogs play as reservoir or intermediate hosts to some parasites of man and other domestic animals. Keywords : dogs, gastrointestinal, helminths, parasites, prevalence, multiple infections, Cameroon RESUME Les feces de 131 chiens de domicile ont ete examines pour la recherche des helminthes parasites gastrointestinaux. L.analyse parasitologique a ete faite en utilisant la methode de flottaison simple. 116 chiens soit 88.55% se sont reveles porteurs d.un ou plusieurs especes parasites suivants: Toxocara canis (34.35%), Ancylostoma caninum (73.28%), Ancylostoma braziliense (14.50%), Uncinaria stenocephala (26.72%), Trichuris vulpis (8.40%), Capillaria aerophila (3.82%), Strongyloides stercoralis (11.45%), Dypilidium caninum (6.11%), Mesocestoides lineatus (3.82%) et Taenia spp.(1.53%). Les infestation parasitaires ont ete uni ou multiples. Les plus fre- quents ont ete les infestation double(32.83%). Les resultats de ce travail ont une importance epidemiologique, vue le role que joue le chien en tant que reservoir ou hote intermediaire de certains parasites de l.homme et des animaux domestiques. Mots cles : chiens, gastro-intestinaux, helminthes, parasites, prevalent, infestation multiple, Cameroun Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2005: 11-14