Prevalence of Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Their Potential Public Health Significance

Zoonotic intestinal parasites can be a problem of public health and veterinary importance, as infected dogs can spread infective stages in their feces to the home and community environment. The present cross sectional study was designed to study the prevalence of bowel parasites in dogs from Baghdad, Iraq, their zoonotic potential and the public health importance by conventional coproparasitology. Materials and Fecal sample collection is done in the selected districts of Baghdad and examined by direct smear, flotation and sedimentation methods and the parasites are identified morphologically up to genus or species level when possible. In such studies, intestinal parasites are typically found in a high percentage of dogs examined with soil transmitted helminths like hookworms and Toxocara spp., and protozoa like Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. being common organisms, while soil transmitted helminths are present in more stray than owned dogs, and younger age and absence of regular deworming are significant criteria. There was a high prevalence of intestinal parasites and some of them are zoonotic; therefore, dogs in Baghdad can be a cause of environmental pollution and potential human exposure, especially children and vulnerable groups. Zoonotic risk can be mitigated with enhanced parasite control, better stray dog management, and a One Health approach to surveillance.