PREVALENCE OF ZOONOTIC GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS IN DOGS IN NORTH BANK, MAKURDI AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESIDENTS REGARDING GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dog owners in the Northbank area of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of 384 fecal samples were collected from both household (n=193) and stray dogs (n=191) between June and September 2025. Samples were examined using floatation and sedimentation techniques. Additionally, 116 dog owners were surveyed using structured questionnaires to evaluate their awareness of zoonotic diseases. The overall prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites was 30.73% (118/384). From the positive samples, Ancylostoma spp. was the most prevalent parasite (42.37%), followed by Toxocara canis (35.59%), Dipylidium caninum (11.02%), Strongyloides stercoralis (7.63%), Echinococcus spp. (1.69%), and Trichuris vulpis (1.69%). Stray dogs had a slightly higher prevalence (32.46%) compared to household dogs (29.02%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.7652). There was no significant association between parasite occurrence and age (p=0.8230), sex (p=0.5741), or breed (p=0.7110) of dogs. However, location showed significant variation (p=0.0028), with Ujam village recording the highest prevalence (48.18%) and Mami area the lowest (20%). Monthly variations were also significant (p=0.0001), with June having the highest prevalence (60%). The survey revealed that while 91.38% of respondents were aware that diseases can be transmitted from dogs to humans, knowledge gaps existed regarding transmission routes, and deworming practices were inconsistent. Only 41.38% of dog owners dewormed their dogs regularly. These findings highlight the public health significance of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and underscore the need for improved dog management practices, regular deworming programs, public health education, and integrated One Health approaches to reduce zoonotic transmission risks in Makurdi.
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