Prevalence of canine parasitic infections in and around Ludhiana, Punjab

A total of 829 samples encompassing 488 blood, 207 faecal and 134 skin scrapings were examined from dogs presented at Small Animal Clinics, GADVASU, Ludhiana. Examination of Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears revealed an overall prevalence of haemoprotozoan infections as 8.60% that comprised Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, B. canis, Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis as 0.40, 4.51, 1.43, 1.43 and 0.82%, respectively. Faecal floatation test revealed that the overall prevalence of GI parasitic infections was 26.09%. The prevalence of Isospora sp., Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma sp., Taenia sp. and Trichuris vulpis was 3.86, 0.97, 19.32, 1.45 and 0.48%, respectively. The hookworms were the most prevalent GI parasites of dogs. Sex wise and age wise no significant differences were recorded between various groups in the prevalence of GI parasitic infections. Out of a total of 134 skin scrapings examined the prevalence of mange mites was recorded to be 28.36%. The prevalence of Demodex canis and Sarcoptes scabei var canis was 19.40 and 8.96%, respectively and sex of host had significant effect on the prevalence of mange infestation.