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. 2012;6(1):70-8.
Epub 2012 Jun 30.

A Survey on Ectoparasite Infestations in Companion Dogs of Ahvaz District, South-west of Iran

B Mosallanejad  1 , Ar Alborzi, N Katvandi
Affiliations

A Survey on Ectoparasite Infestations in Companion Dogs of Ahvaz District, South-west of Iran

B Mosallanejad et al. J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2012.

Abstract

Background: The objective was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in referred companion dogs to veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, from 2009 to 2010.

Methods: A total of 126 dogs were sampled for ectoparasites and examined by parasitological methods. The studied animals were grouped based on the age (<1 year, 1-3 years and >3 years), sex, breed and region

Results: Thirty six out of 126 referred dogs (28.57%) were positive for external ectoparasites. The most common ectoparasites were Heterodoxus spinigera, which were recorded on 11 dogs (8.73%). Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Sarcoptes scabiei, Otodectes cynotis, Xenopsylla cheopis, Cetenocephalides canis, Cetenocephalides felis, Hippobosca sp. and myiasis (L3 of Lucilia sp.) were identified on 9 (7.14%), 7 (5.56%), 6 (4.76%), 3 (2.38%), 3 (2.38%), 2 (1.59%), 2 (1.59%) and one (0.79%) of the studied dogs respectively. Mixed infestation with two species of ectoparasites was recorded on 8 (6.35%). Prevalence was higher in male dogs (35.82%; 24 out of 67) than females (20.34%; 12 out of 59), age above 3 years (31.81%; 7 out of 22) and in the season of winter (30.95%; 13 out of 42), but the difference was not significant regarding to host gender, age and season (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Apparently this is the first study conducted in companion dogs of Ahvaz District, South-west of Iran. Our results indicated that lice and ticks were the most common ectoparasites in dogs of this area. The zoonotic nature of some ectoparasites can be regard as a public health alert.

Keywords: Dogs; Ectoparasite; Infestation; Iran; Prevalence.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The original pictures of ectoparasites found in companion dogs of Ahvaz District including (A) S. scabies, (B) O. cynotis, (C) Hyppobosca sp., (D) H. spiniger, (E) The affected dog to myiasis (L3 of fly Lucilia sp.), (F) R. sanguinus (female), (G) R. sanguinus (male and female), (H) X. cheopis, (I) C. felis, (J) C. canis. The pictures were taken by a digital camera in the Parasitology Lab of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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