Detección de huevos de Toxocara canis en la región perianal y caudal de caninos como potencial riesgo zoonótico

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the presence of Toxocara canis eggs in the perianal and caudal region of dogs that pass through parks in the city of Cuenca - Ecuador, as an indicator of public health risk. The research was conducted in the "Primero de Mayo", "El Paraíso", and "Miraflores" Parks, 180 dogs were considered as a sample, which happened to be pets of people living in the surroundings of these parks. The procedure consisted of taking a sample (hair cut) from the dogs, and then taking them to the laboratory, and applying the Overgaauw technique, in which a soapy solution with three drops of Tween 20 in 40ml of distilled water is used. After performing the process, the results of the quantitative description of the fur of the canines allowed determining that: four dogs, that is, 2.22% were positive to present prevalence of Toxocara canis parasites, with a higher percentage in females, than in young and geriatric dogs. These results allowed us to conclude that Toxocara canis is present, considering that, in the experimental design, percentages lower than 10% are considered null. For this reason, preventive strategies should be implemented by veterinarians and competent authorities, such as deworming campaigns, birth control, raising awareness of the use of covers and leashes, and informing society of the risks involved in contracting this parasite.

Keywords: Toxocara Eggs, Canine Coat, Zoonotic Risk