Prevalence of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Helminths Among Pet Dogs in Western Chitwan, Nepal

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites (GIHPs) in dogs, belonging to the phyla Platyhelminthes and Nemathelminths, pose a zoonotic threat by contaminating human environments with cysts, oocysts, and eggs. Investigating GIHPs in domesticated dogs in close contact with humans is crucial to understanding zoonotic transmission. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of zoonotic helminths in dogs in western Chitwan, Nepal. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 240 canine caretakers. A total of 103 freshly defecated fecal samples were collected from three sites in Bharatpur Metropolitan City and preserved in 10% formalin. The samples were examined using sedimentation and flotation techniques. The study found an overall GIHP prevalence of 57.28% (59/103), identifying six parasite species. The most prevalent was Ancylostoma spp. (74.57%), followed by Taenia spp. (20.34%), Toxocara spp. (15.25%), Strongyloides spp. (5.08%), Trichuris spp. (3.39%), and Dipylidium spp. (3.39%). Multiple infections were observed in 15.25% (9/59) of cases. Infection rates in males and females were 61.02% and 38.98%, respectively. Among the puppies, adults, and older dogs, the infection rates were 60%, 57.97%, and 50%, respectively. By region, infection rates were 67.86% in Chanauli, 59.46% in Rampur, and 47.37% in Mangalpur. The dewormed (≤ 3 months) dogs had a 38.10% prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs). In contrast, those dewormed less frequently (> 3 months) had a 56.10% prevalence, while nondewormed dogs had the highest prevalence at 68.29%. Out of 240 canine caretakers, only 50.41% were aware of parasitic zoonoses. The findings highlight the importance of regular deworming and veterinary intervention to control GIHPs and reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission, emphasizing the need for strategic health measures.