Parasitic infections in dogs in semi-arid Jaipur (Rajasthan)

Prevalence of parasitic infections in dogs, maintained by urban society in the semiarid Jaipur (Rajasthan), were investigated. A total of 105 faecal samples and 61 blood samples were microscopically examined from September 2007 to August 2008. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites was 29.52%. Long haired breeds (Pomeranian followed by German Shepherd) were more commonly affected than other breeds. Among GI parasitic infections, hookworms predominated. None of the animals was positive for Taenia spp. eggs. The overall prevalence of haemoprotozoan infections was 16.39%. Animals were positive for Babesia spp. (13.1%) and for Ehrlichia canis (4.9%). Concurrent infection with more than one species of GI parasites (6.7%) and haemoprotozoans (1.63%) was no exception.