Presence of Toxocara eggs on the hair of dogs and cats

35018

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, the common dog and cat ascarids, are zoonotic parasites. Humans can become infected through ingestion of infective eggs. It is generally accepted that human infection is caused as a result of direct contact with contaminated soil. However, recently, the eggs of Toxocara spp. have been found in the hair of dogs. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. eggs on the hair of dogs and cats. From 130 stray and owned animals, samples were taken from the perianal region, the caudal aspect of the hind limbs and the underside of the tail. In the hair of 49 dogs (49 %) and 4 cats (13.3 %) Toxocara spp. eggs were found. For the cat, total number of Toxocara eggs were 6. One of the egg recovered (16.7 %) was embryonated and one (16.7 %) was unembryonated. A total of 857 Toxocara spp. eggs were found in dogs. 439 (51.2 %) of the eggs recovered were unembryonated, 131 (15.3 %) were embryonating, 89 (10.4 %) were embryonated and 198 (28.1 %) were non-viable. Eggs of Taenia spp., Dipylidium caninum and Toxascaris leonina were also recovered 24, 6 and 15 % of dog hair samples, respectively. As Toxocara spp. eggs were found in the hair of stray/owned dogs and cats, direct contact with dogs and cats may be a potential risk factor for transmission of Toxocara spp. eggs to humans.

171

Cat , direct contact , dog , eggs , hair , Toxocara spp.

Veterinary Journal of Ankara University

176

Veterinary Journal of Ankara University