title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs under veterinary care in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
abstract: The prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs presented to the Veterinary Policlinic of the University of Zulia (PVU) was measured between January and December 2001. A total of 614 fecal samples were evaluated by the fecal flotation method. One or more species of parasites was identified in 218 (35.5%) dogs. The parasites most frequently detected were: Ancylostoma spp. (24.5%), Toxocara canis (11.4%) and Isospora spp. (8.1%). Single parasitic infections were present in 149 (24.3%) dogs. The age distribution of intestinal parasites in dogs less than 1 year old had a higher overall prevalence than those dogs over 12 months of age. There was no significant difference in the prevalence between male (38.9%) and female (31.7%) dogs. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) greater prevalence of parasites in mixed-breed dogs (40.3%) as compared with pure-breed dogs (30.8%). A significant difference (P < 0.05) was detected between the general prevalence of January and December compared to August.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 3er Piso, Av. Ziruma, Ciudad Universitaria, La Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, estado Zulia, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Barrios
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barboza-Mena
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angulo-Cubillán
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Fany
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Freddys
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escalona
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012621:Seasons; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology