In Patagonia, studies on the presence of helminth endoparasites in feces collected from dogs in public areas have been done in the provinces of Neuquén and Chubut; there are no studies of this type in Río Negro province. The aim of this study was to perform a preliminary survey of the presence of helminth parasites in dog feces from neighborhoods in Bariloche (Patagonia, Argentina). Canine feces were collected in 2011 and 2013 from 5 neighborhoods with different socio-economic and cultural characteristics. Samples were fractionated and analysed by direct and indirect methods. A total of 10 helminth species were identified, with direct methods the cestode Diphyllobothrium sp. and the nematodes Strongyloides sp., Uncinaria sp., Ancylostoma sp., Toxocara sp., Toxascaris sp., Capillaria sp. and Trichuris sp. were recorded, and through indirect methods the cestodes Echinococcus granulosus and Taenia sp. The species richness of neighborhoods ranges between 0-6, with the highest percentage of infection for Trichuris sp. (77 %), and Strongyloides sp. was the most widespread parasite species, present in 4 from 5 neighborhoods sampled. In the neighborhood sampled both years, E. granulosus and Diphyllobothrium sp. were recorded in both samplings. The repeated presence of parasite species in different sampling years indicates that circulation of the parasitoses is sustained by cultural practices in a social context where there is no appropriate health education, control neither monitoring of diseases. This is the first report of the presence of echinococcosis and diphyllobothriosis in urban dogs in Bariloche.
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.