Prevalence of toxoplasma gondii, toxocaracanis and other intestinal parasites among dogs and cats in ekiti state Nigeria

Numerous parasites can be found in dogs and cats, and they have been linked to the human spread of zoonotic illnesses. In Ekiti State, 160 dogs and 25 cats were tested for parasites in a community-based cross-sectional study.Freshly passed stools from dogs and cats were collected and examined for intestinal parasites by modified sucrose floatation technique. The overall prevalence of parasite from dog and cat were 40 and 20 % respectively. The prevalence of parasite among dogs were 32.8%, 21.9 %, 35.9%, 1.6 % and 7.8 % for Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocaracanis, Ascarislumbricoides, Trichuristrichuria and Hookworm respectively while for cats 60 % and 40 % for Hookworm and Entamoebahistolytica. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in male and female dogs were 61.9 % and 38.1 % respectively. The seroprevalence of A. lumbrocoidesin male and female dogs were 56.5 % and 43.5 % respectively; seroprevalence for T. trichuria in male dog was 100 % and none was detected in female dog, seroprevalence for hookworm in male and female dogs were 40.0 % and 60 % respectively, while seroprevalence for hookworm in male and female cats were 66.7 % and 33.3 % respectively; seroprevalence for E. histolytica in female dog was 100 % and none was detected in male cat. No ToxoplasmagondiiandToxocaracanis were detected in cats. The potential risk factors for transmission of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and other intestinal parasitesidentified in the study area include the keeping of free range dog and cat, improper handling and disposal of dog and cat faeces andlivestock manure, and consumption of untreated water. There should be increase in awareness campaigns on toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and other intestinal parasites among people this would help in providing more information to enable informeddecision making about disease control and to empowerwith knowledge to curb transmission from animalsto man.