title: A field survey on parasites and antibodies against selected pathogens in owned dogs in Lilongwe, Malawi.
abstract: The aim of this study was to screen for selected parasites and antibody levels against vectorborne pathogens in owned dogs in Lilongwe, Malawi. The study population consisted of 100 dogs; 80 participating in vaccination-spaying campaigns and 20 visiting a veterinary clinic as paying clients. All dogs went through a general physical examination including visual examination for signs of ectoparasites. A total of 100 blood samples were analysed using commercial snap tests and 40 faecal samples by egg flotation in saturated sodium chloride. The sampled dogs had a seroprevalence of 12% for Anaplasma spp., 22% for Ehrlichia spp., 4% for Dirofilaria immitis and 1% for Leishmania spp. Eggs from Ancylostoma spp. were found in 80% of the faecal samples, whereas eggs of Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina were only present in 3%, 8% and 13% of the samples, respectively. Ectoparasites such as Ctenocephalides sp., Trichodectes sp. and ticks were present on 98%, 25% and 11%, respectively, of the campaign dogs. Among client dogs, 35% had Ctenocephalides fleas, 10% had Trichodectes lice and none had ticks. Public education and prophylactic treatment could be used to improve the animal welfare of dogs; this would most likely also have positive impact on public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. karin.alvasen@slu.se.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alvåsen
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Höglund
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ssuna
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Emanuelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies