ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cestode and nematode infections in stray dogs in Afyonkarahisar and Eskisehir provinces. A total of 287 dogs (n=150 from Afyonkarahisar and n=137 from Eskisehir) of different ages and sexes living in animal shelters were used in this study. After the coprological examination, dogs were found to be infected with various gastrointestinal cestode and nematode species. It was found that rates of infection were 46% (69 out of 150) in Afyonkarahisar and 33.6% (46 out of 137) in Eskisehir provinces. Species responsible for the infection were the same in both provinces. In the Afyonkarahisar province 59.4% hookworms, 47.8% Toxascaris leonina, 36.2% Toxocara canis, 2.9% Dipylidium caninum and 2.9% Taenia spp. were detected. In the Eskisehir province 60.9% Toxascaris leonina , 47.8% Toxocara canis, 23.9% Taenia spp., 6.5% hookworms and 4.3% Dipylidium caninum were detected. It was concluded that in Afyonkarahisar and Eskisehir provinces, stray dogs might be infected with helminths which put humans in danger and necessary measures are needed.