Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Toxocara canis infections in dogs. The study was conducted in three communities in Southwest Nigeria between January, 2011 and February, 2012. Faecal samples (n=474) were processed by modified Kato-Katz procedure. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for T. canis. An overall prevalence of 34.6% was recorded for T. canis. Intensity of infection, determined by the mean number of eggs per gram of faeces (±standard error of mean [SEM]) was 4301.2 ± 348.4. Age of dogs and the mode of life were identified as the significant risk factors for T. canis. The odds of being infected with T. canis decreased with age. Dogs aged 0 to 6 months were 7.9 times more likely to harbour T. canis than dogs aged 31 months and above. The odds of harbouring T. canis by stray dogs were 2.7 times more than the kennel dogs. This study shows that T. canis infection is high in puppies and stray dogs. There is the need for establishment of deworming program to improve the health status of the dogs and to reduce the risk of zoonotic infection in humans.

Key words: Parasitism, epidemiology, pets, toxocariasis, larva migrans.