Authors : W.I. Felefel, Kh.M. El-Dakhly, M.A. El-Beskawy, M.F. El-Dakroury, M.M. Elkamshishi and E.S. Mohammed
Abstract: A surveillance of zoonotic and other gastrointestinal parasites of stray dogs along with assessing the efficacy of garlic-based treatment was conducted in Alexandria, Egypt. Therefore, forty stray dogs were examined and divided into two groups; group 1: Dogs were given a high dose of five garlic cloves/dog twice daily, group 2: Dogs received a proposed strategy of gradual lower doses based on weight; small weight dogs (13-14 kg) received 1/4 clove twice/day, medium weight (16-18 kg) dogs received 1/2 cloves twice/day, larger dogs (19-20 kg) received 3/4 clove twice/day, heavy weight (>20 kg) dogs received one clove twice/day. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections was 90.0%. Identified parasites were Isospora (100%), Toxocara canis (27.78%) and both Taenia spp. and Dipylidium caninum (5.56% each). Single infection with at least one parasite was revealed in 20 dogs and co-infections with more than one parasitic species was found in 16 dogs. Sex, age and weight of dogs were non-significant. All female dogs were infected. Upon the treatment with garlic, the coprological examination revealed a significant reduction in helminth eggs among dogs of the group 1 (79.9%; t = -3.121, p = 0.006*) rather than those of group 2 while the number of protozoaloocysts was significantly reduced in both groups (t = -4.211, p = 0.001* and t = -6.872, p = 0.000*, respectively). The mean values of most of blood parameters measured were significantly positive like HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, blood platelets and neutrophils. Kidney function tests revealed that uric acid significantly increased post treatment in both groups (t = 5.257, p = 0.000* and t = 6.945, p = 0.000*, respectively) while creatinine level remained within the normal values. Moreover, liver enzymes, particularly AST and AP were significantly increased post treatment. There was a high risk of human zoonotic parasites transmission in the study area and the garlic is strongly recommended as an anthelmintic and a potential alternative to overcome rising resistance to conventional anthelmintics.
W.I. Felefel, Kh.M. El-Dakhly, M.A. El-Beskawy, M.F. El-Dakroury, M.M. Elkamshishi and E.S. Mohammed, 2021. Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Stray Dogs with in vivo Assessment using the Garlic (Allium sativum). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 20: 161-168.