A copro investigative study of parasites in stray dogs and cats in rural, semi-rural and urban areas of Berbera city of Somaliland (Northern of Somalia) [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present study was conducted during the period from October 2008 to April 2009 at Berbera city of Togdheer district of Somaliland at the northern part of Somalia where living conditions are particularly poor in these rural communities with large numbers of stray dogs and cats that have no access to any veterinary services. A total of 41 stray dogs and 28 stray cats were randomly selected from rural, semi-rural and urban places and subjected to qualitative coprological examinations to identify the major parasites involved in parasitic burden. Stray cats and stray dogs are not consistently vaccinated or dewormed as animal health's requirement. For dogs, the result revealed that the prevalence was 65.9% (27/41). Protozoal Giardia cysts were more prevalent 31.7% (13/41) followed by nematode infestations 31.7% (13/41) where, Toxocara canis was detected in 26.8% (11/41) and Anchylostoma caninum 4.9% (2/41) whereas Cestodes infestation, Taenia spp. showed the lowest prevalence 2.4% (1/41). For Stray cat, the prevalence was 32.1% (9/28). Nematode infestations were more prevalent 21.4% (6/28), where Toxocara spp. were detected in 17.9 % (5/28) and Anchylostoma spp. in 3.6% (1/28) followed by Protozoal Coccidian oocysts 7.1% (2/28) and finally Cestodes infestations, Taenia spp. 3.6% (1/28). Monoparasitism and poly-parasitism analysis has revealed that 53.7% (22/41) of dogs, were infected with a single species of parasites and 12.2% (5/41) were harboring more than one parasite species, whereas, in cats revealed that 25.0% (7/28) of cats were infected with a single parasite species while7.1% (2/28) were harboring more than one parasite species. Recommendations were given.

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