The Effect of removal of feces on subsequent excretion of intestinal parasite eggs in Lithuanian village dogs

Abstract

The hygiene for dogs and cats can be achieved by removing the faeces (Rulffes, 1989, Stephan, 1989) and thorough deaning of kennels (Smith, 1985). The aim of this study was to examine the excretion of intestinal parasite eggs in the feces of Lithuanian village dogs kept on areas with regularly or irregularly removed feces from the ground. The adult village dogs for which it was possible to individually sample the feces from the ground were randomly selected for this study. The fresh individual fecal samples were collected monthly from May 2013 to June 2014 from the ground within the area accessible by dogs with regulary removed feces (n=100) or dogs with irregularly removed feces (n=102). The samples were examined using flotation in zinc chloride solution and microscopic analysis. The excretion of T. canis eggs was significantly higher (P<0.05) in dogs with irregularly removed feces (1.03%; 95% CI 0.03-5.61 and 1.08%; 95% CI 0.03-5.85) compared to those with regular removed feces (5.88%; 95% CI 2.19-12.36 and 5.49%; 95% CI2.21-12.48) in November and December, respectively. A significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in excretion of Capillaria sp. eggs in dogs with regularly removed feces in July (0.00%; 95% CI 0.00-3.36), March (0.00%; 95% CI 0.00-3.89), April (0.00%; 95% CI 0.00-3.97) and May (0.00%; 95% CI 0.00-4.06) as compared to dogs with irregularly removed feces (4.55%; 95% CI 1.49-10.29; 6.32%; 95% CI 2.35-13.24; 7.45%; 95% CI 3.05-14.74 and 9,68%; 95% CI 4.52-17.58) in the same months. The excretion of teaniidae or T. vulpis in the feces was not affected by regular removal of feces.