title: The prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in stray dogs in Iraq.
abstract: The present paper records the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in stray dogs of Al-Tamim (northern Iraq), Diala (mid Iraq) and Theqar province (southern Iraq), where many people are infected with hydatid disease. Of 150 dogs examined in three provinces in Iraq, 57 (38%) were infected with E. granulosus. The prevalence of the worm was higher in the dogs of Theqar province (56%) than in those of Al-Tamim (20%) and Diala Provinces (38%). Infections were light (1-200 worms) in eight (14%) of the infected dogs, medium (201-1000 worms) in 14 (24.6%) and high (over 1000 worms) in 35 (61.4%). The mean worm burden was 1844 and the maximum number of worms was 15,182 recorded in a male dog from Theqar province. The reasons for such a high rate of infection in the dogs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Education, University of Salahddin, Arbil, Iraq.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Molan
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence