title: The prevalence and abundance of helminth parasites in stray dogs from the city of Queretaro in central Mexico.
abstract: The prevalence of helminth species in stray dogs, from the capital city of the state of Queretaro, was evaluated. A total of 378 dogs were captured and examined for the presence of helminths from January to December 2008. The results showed that 275 (72.8%) of examined dogs were infected with one or more helminth species. Single infections were observed in 139 (50.5%) of infected dogs and 136 (49.5%) harboured mixed infections. Out of the 378 dogs examined, 208 (55.2%) presented nematodes and 182 (48.1%) cestodes. The prevalences (confidence interval) and mean intensities of infection ( ± SD) of nematodes and cestodes encountered were: Ancylostoma caninum 42.9% (37.9-47.8) and 22.1 ( ± 34.3); Toxocara canis 15.1% (11.8-19.0) and 8.3 ( ± 15.0); Spirocerca lupi 4.5% (2.7-7.1) and 3.9 ( ± 4.8); Toxascaris leonina 2.3% (1.1-4.5) and 4.8 ( ± 3.5); Physaloptera praeputialis 1.9% (0.8-3.8) and 9.7 ( ± 14.9); Dirofilaria immitis 1.3% (0.4-3.1) and 5.6 ( ± 2.1); Oslerus osleri 0.3% (0.0-1.6) and 5 ( ± 0.0); Dipylidium caninum 44.9% (40.0-50.0) and 18.1 ( ± 27.7); Taenia spp. 6.9% (4.7-9.9) and 6.9 ( ± 7.1). There were no significant differences in prevalences observed either between female (68.5%) and male (76.8%) or between young (70.6%) and adult (74.2%) animals. No differences were observed in the ANOVA test for the mean intensity of infection of any of the parasites (P>0.05).
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiología Ambiental, Avenida de las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla, Queretaro, Mexico. gcanto07@uaq.mx
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cantó
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosqueda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence