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A survey of intestinal helminths in domestic dogs in a human–animal–environmental interface: the Oloisukut Conservancy, Narok County, Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2021

E. Mulinge Open the ORCID record for E. Mulinge [Opens in a new window] ,
E. Zeyhle ,
J. Mpario ,
M. Mugo ,
L. Nungari ,
B. Ngugi ,
B. Sankale ,
P. Gathura ,
J. Magambo  and
M. Kachani
E. Mulinge*
Affiliation:
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi00200, Kenya
E. Zeyhle
Affiliation:
Meru University of Science and Technology, Meru60200, Kenya
J. Mpario
Affiliation:
Oloisukut Conservancy, Narok20500, Kenya
M. Mugo
Affiliation:
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi00200, Kenya
L. Nungari
Affiliation:
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi00200, Kenya
B. Ngugi
Affiliation:
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi00200, Kenya
B. Sankale
Affiliation:
Oloisukut Conservancy, Narok20500, Kenya
P. Gathura
Affiliation:
University of Nairobi, Nairobi00100, Kenya
J. Magambo
Affiliation:
Meru University of Science and Technology, Meru60200, Kenya
M. Kachani
Affiliation:
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA91766-1854, USA
*
Author for correspondence: E. Mulinge, E-mail: erastusmulinge@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Dogs living in a domestic–wildlife interface can serve as reservoirs and sentinels of parasites shared among humans, domestic animals and wildlife. In Kenya, the epidemiology of intestinal parasites of dogs and their role as reservoirs of zoonoses is poorly understood, especially in domestic–wildlife interfaces. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of intestinal helminths in domestic dogs in the Oloisukut Conservancy. One hundred dog faecal samples were collected per rectum and examined microscopically following zinc chloride flotation and formal-ether concentration techniques. Genotyping of helminths was achieved by nested polymerase chain reaction of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, cytochrome oxidase 1 and partial sequencing. Nine genera were detected by microscopy in 65 (65%) dog faecal samples from 54/76 (71.05%) households. The most frequent helminths were hookworm (39%), Spirometra spp. (17%), taeniids (13%), Toxocara spp. (10%), Trichuris spp. (10%), Spirocerca lupi (5%), Physaloptera spp. (2%), Dipylidium caninum (1%) and Strongyloides spp. (1%). Ancylostoma caninum was the only hookworm species detected in dogs, while Taenia serialis and Taenia madoquae were detected in four and one faecal samples, respectively. This study reports for the first time the molecular detection of the cestodes Spirometra theileri, D. caninum and Mesocestoides sp. in dogs in Kenya. The presence of zoonotic helminths in dogs indicates that the residents of this conservancy are exposed to public health risks. The helminths reported here confirm the interaction of domestic dogs with wildlife. An integrated control programme involving the medical, veterinary and wildlife conservation professionals is needed to avert transmission of infectious diseases to humans, domestic animals and wildlife.

Keywords

Intestinal helminthsdogszoonosesOne HealthOloisukut ConservancyKenya
Type
Research Paper
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 95 , 2021 , e59
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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