title: A survey of ectoparasite infestations in stray dogs of Gwang-ju City, Republic of Korea.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the incidence of ectoparasite infestation among stray dogs in Gwang-ju City, Republic of Korea. A total of 103 stray dogs collected in the Animal Shelter of Gwang-ju City from November 2003 to August 2005 were investigated in this study. Ectoparasites of one or more genera were detected in 45.6% (47 / 103) of the dogs examined for dermatologic lesions and/or skin scrapings (from 3-5 affected areas). Otodectes cynotis was found to be the most frequent parasite (22.3%, 23 / 103), followed by Sarcoptes scabiei var canis (19.4%, 20 / 103), Ctenocephalides canis (6.8%, 7 / 103), Demodex canis (4.9%, 5 / 103), and Trichodectes canis (1.0%, 1 / 103). Monospecific infestation was found in 83.0% (39 / 47) of the affected dogs, whereas concurrent infestations with 2 or more ectoparasites per animal were found in 17.0% (8 / 47) of the affected dogs. Trichodectes canis is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea. Dogs less than 1 yr old were more heavily infected than other age groups (66.7%), and small-sized dogs of less than 3 kg body weight were more heavily infected than larger dogs (41.7%).
authors.affiliation: Animal Disease Control Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Jung Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ho Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyoung Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abd El-Aty
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aty
authors.forename: Sung Shik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male