HELMINTHS, PROTOZOAN PARASITES AND HELMINTHOZOONOSIS IN DOMESTIC DOGS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS IN MOSCOW

Abstract

The main purpose of the work was to identify helminth and protozoan parasite infections and helminthozoonosis in domestic dogs of different age groups in Moscow. Coproovoscopic examinations were carried out during 2022 for dogs older than a year and puppies up to 6 months from 5 administrative districts of the City. Fecal samples were collected in defecation of dogs individually in a sterile container with the animal information on the label during dog walking by their owners. Infection of the dogs was found with the following zoonotic helminths: Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Dipylidium caninum, and Taenia spp.; and protozoa: Isospora canis. Toxocara canis reached its maximum value in the puppies up to 6 months of age with the prevalence of 33.3%, and in the dogs older than a year with the prevalence of 15.3%. Toxascaris leonina was not found in the puppies under 6 months of age; in the dogs older than a year, it reached the maximum invasion value with the prevalence of 9.5%. Dipylidium caninum reached the maximum invasion value in the puppies aged up to 6 months with the prevalence of 7.8%, but the dogs older than a year were not found to have Dipylidium caninum. Taenia spp., were found neither in the puppies nor in dogs older than a year.