TY  - JOUR
T1  - Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Stray Dogs with <i>in vivo</i> Assessment using the Garlic
(<i>Allium sativum</i>)
AU - Felefel, W.I. AU - El-Dakhly, Kh.M. AU - El-Beskawy, M.A. AU - El-Dakroury, M.F. AU - Elkamshishi, M.M. AU - Mohammed, E.S. 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 20
IS  - 6
SP  - 161
EP  - 168
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2021.161.168
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2021.161.168
KW  - Intestinal parasites
KW  -garlic
KW  -stray dogs
KW  -efficacy
AB  - 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
<i>Isospora</i> (100%), <i>Toxocara canis</i> (27.78%) and both
<i>Taenia</i> spp. and <i>Dipylidium caninum</i> (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.
ER  -