!" #$%$ &'()*+# Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 0 Vom Plateau State, Nigeria * shapumani@yahoo.com +23470355775 + Association of parasitic infection of dogs with packed cell volume (PCV) as an indication of anaemia was investigated using diagnostic records from May 2008 to April 200. One hundred and fourteen blood and 84 fecal samples from owned dogs were used. Giemsa-stained thin blood smears were examined for haemoparasites. Fecal samples were processed by simple floatation, using saturated sodium chloride and formol ether concentration methods. An overall prevalence of 42% for haemoparasites and 3% for helminths were recorded. The prevalence was higher in local breeds than mixed and pure exotic breeds. sensu lato appears to be more prevalent (27%) than other haemoparasites and (2%) more than other helminth parasites. 37% of the dogs examined were harbouring either haemo- or intestinal parasites or both. Dogs negative for haemoand intestinal parasites had mean packed cell volume (PCV) values within the normal range (37-55%). Dogs infected with only haemoparasites or those with both haemo- and intestinal parasites had significantly lower (P<0.0) mean PCV values compared to non-infected animals. The parasitic causes of anaemia in dogs, its public health significance and control measures are discussed.,-.. Anaemia, Dogs, Parasites, Nigeria.. It is generally believed that the dog was the first domestic animal in most parts of the world. The first dogs may have been brought into the human circle as long as 25,000 years ago, in the Old Stone Age, when humans lived by gathering plants and hunting animals. Dogs today often serve people in ways similar to those for which the breed was originally domesticated, such as guarding flocks of sheep against predators, hunting, as police or army dogs, they lead the blind, patrol military installations, and do the kinds of jobs that make people's lives easier and safer,2. There has been increased interest in keeping dogs in Nigeria mainly as security or pets and in some parts of the country for food. To perform these duties, the dogs ought to be alert and agile. Parasites may infect dogs resulting in anaemia, weakness or death. Similarly, dogs may harbour parasites which constitute a health hazard to owners because of zoonotic implication 3. Screening of dogs to detect parasitic infection is
recommended to enable owners to institute treatment and safeguard the health of the public. This paper tries to determine the association of parasitic infections and anaemia../. Anticoagulated blood and fresh fecal samples from owned dogs were submitted to the Parasitology laboratory for diagnosis. One hundred and fourteen blood and eighty four fecal samples submitted from May 2008 to April 200 were processed and examined for different parasites. A thin blood smear was prepared from each blood sample, air-dried, fixed in methanol for 2 3 min, stained in 5% Giemsa stain with added Azur II (2 g/l of undiluted stain) and rinsed in buffered water. The smears were examined at 000x magnification (oil immersion) with a microscope; at least 50 fields were searched per slide. Presence of haemoparasites was recorded; identification was carried out to genus and, where possible, to species level. Packed cell volume (PCV) was determined according to standard procedure and the buffy coat examined for motile blood parasites. Fecal samples were processed and examined by simple floatation using saturated sodium chloride solution and formol ether concentration techniques 4,5,6. Identification of parasite eggs was according to Soulsby 4. Student t-test was used to analyze association of PCV and parasite infection at confidence interval of 95%. ) Forty-eight (42%) of 4 blood samples were positive for different blood parasites while 26 (3%) of the 84 faecal samples were positive for various helminths and cysts (Table I). Local breed of dogs appears to be most commonly infected followed by mixed breeds. Prevalence for both blood and faecal parasites is lowest in exotic breeds (fig.). sensu lato was the most prevalent blood parasite, of the helminths. There was marked reduction in packed cell volume (PCV) of dogs infected with both helminths and blood parasites. However, dogs harbouring helminths alone had only slight reduction in the PCV. The haemogram is characterized by marked anisocytosis and polychromasia. and were seen only rarely (Table
II). Fig. Prevalence of hemoparasites in dogs examined according to breed. # There are several reports on the prevalence of parasitism in dog from different parts of the Nigeria 2,7. We determined the relationship between parasitism and the PCV of dogs. Dogs infected by both haemo- and intestinal parasites had marked reduction in PCV followed by those infected by haemoparasites alone (Table II). Mixed haemo- and intestinal parasitism appears to have a marked effect on PCV compared to those infected by intestinal parasites only. This may be due to a combined effect of haemolysis as in babesiosis and haemorrhage by blood sucking spp. spp are known to multiply in the host red blood cell thereby leading to haemolysis and anaemia. In severe cases they cause slugging of blood in peripheral vessels leading to disseminated intravascular coagulation and organ failure 8. Most positive samples for parasite revealed anisocytosis, hypochromasia and marked reticulocytosis an indication of positive response of the haemopoetic
organs. The high incidence of babesiosis could be attributed to abundance of the tick vector in this environment almost all year round 9,0. Exotic and mixed breeds which are usually owned by wealthy individuals and better cared for had lower prevalence compared to local breeds (Fig ). However, was seen in exotic breed of dog which may be attributed to breed susceptibility. Infections by helminths alone resulted in mild reduction of PCV, which may be as a result of good feeding of dogs by owners and possibly routine deworming of dogs leading to reduction of infection load. Gender did not affect the infection rate which may be attributed to similar management of both sexes. There was increase in the incidence of haemoparasitism with age probably as a result of adult dogs roaming around more than puppies which are mostly confined. However, puppies had a higher incidence of helminths than adult which may be due to the fact that most owners may deworm the adults but ignore the young assuming that they are not exposed, leading to a build-up of helminthosis. There is also the possibility of transplacental or trans-colostral transmission of helminths 4. All the helminths diagnosed in dogs in this study ( and are potential zoonoses with severe consequences in man 3. There is need therefore to improve the sanitation of the environment where dogs are kept to reduce the prevalence as well as minimize the risk of infection to man and to educate dog owners on the potential risk of zoonosis. )". Anon.Encarta Interactive World Atlas. Microsoft Student Encarta. 2003 2. Ogo, I.N., Onovoh, E.O., Ajayi, O.O., Ogedengbe, J.D. and Nwambara, N.U. Environmental contamination by helminths ova/ larva from dog feces from Jos South LGA of Plateau State. Vom Journal of Veterinary Science 2005; (2): 64-67 3. Adejoke, I. C. Prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites of dogs in Lagos, Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research 2005; 48(4): 279-283 4. Soulsby, E.J.L. Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals, 7 th ed. Bailliere Tindall, London 982; 769. 5. Coles E.H. Veterinary Clinical Pathology 4th Ed. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia986; 53-55. 6. Schalm, O. W., N. c. Jain and W. J. Carrol. Veterinary Haematology (3rd. ed.), Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, U.S.A. 975; 807
7. Sasaki, O. M. Omobowale, M. Tozuka, K. Ohta, A. Matsuu, H. O. Nottidge, H. Hirata, H. Ikadai and T. Oyamada.Molecular Survey of in Dogs in Nigeria.! 2007;69(): 9 93. 8. Vial H.J. and Gorenflot, A. Chemotherapy against babesiosis. Veterinary Parasitology 2006; 38: 47-60. 9. Mohammed A.N. The seasonal incidence of Ixodid ticks of cattle in Northern Nigeria and in the Netherlands, with particular reference to their role in the transmission of bovine piroplasms. Ph.D. Thesis, ABU Zaria, Nigeria. 974. 0. Uilenberg, G., Franssen, F. F. J., Perie, M. and Spanjer, A. A.M. " 989; : 33 40.. Nyindo, M., Huxsoll, D.L., Ristic, M., Kakoma, I., Brown, J.L., Carson, C.A., Stephenson, E.H. Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of German Shepherd Dogs and Beagles to experimental infection with American Journal of Veterinary Research 980; 4: 250 254. Table I:
Table I: Prevalence of parasites in dogs according to breed Parasite type Breed of dog Local Mix Exotic Total/ % Prevalence 0 s.l. 2 3 6 40 (27.3) # 2 2 5 (6.8) 0 0 (2.3) 0 0 2 2 (4.5) Total % Prevalence 24(2.) 5(3.2) 9(7.9) 48(42.) 6 3 0 (.9) 8 0 0 8 (9.5) 2 0 3 (3.6) 3 $ 5 (6.0) Total/ % Prevalence 7 (20.2) 7 (8.3) 2 (2.4) 26 (3.0)
Table II: Effect of Parasite on Mean PCV of Dogs Blood sample Fecal sample Mean PCV ± SD t-value P Negative Negative 39.0 ±.8 Positive Positive 25.0 ± 8.59 3.94 & Positive negative 27.35 ± 0.23 4.0 & Positive Negative NA NA 25.85 ± 7.6 37.0 ± 8.0 4.4.6 & 0.8 Negative Positive 33.24 ±.95 0.5 0.622 NA= Not available Student s -test comparison of dogs in which no parasites were seen with those with one or more parasites. Values with asterisk indicate significant difference at 95 C.I. (α<0.05).