DETECTION OF GIARDIA INFECTION IN DOGS OF BASRAH CITY

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine detect the infection rate of Giardiasisin local canine breeds of Basrah, Iraq. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) fecalsamples were collected from dogs of both sexes from March to October 2016.Suspected animals either asymptomatic (56.7%) or symptomatic (43.3%) thesuspected dogs show different clinical signs such as diarrhea (6.66%), pasty feces(13.33%), steatorrhea (8.00%), anorexia (10.66%), emaciation (15.55%) andvomiting (0.88%). Diagnosis of Giardia spp was done on basis of microscopicexamination which detects Giardia cyst and trophozoite with infection rate (40 %),moreover, it was confirmed by ELISA technique(Giardia-specific antigen) to detect(75.55%) was infected with G. lamblia with a high infection rate comparison withmicroscopic examination. It had been shown that high infection rate (43.75%) wasdetected in March than the lowest in July (34.78%). Moreover infection with Giardiawas found more common at (1 day to 6 months) of age; furthermore, females showinfection rate more males. It has been concluded that giardiasis affected canine ofBasrah city lead to substantial effect, therefore animals must be screenedperiodically.

Keywords

Giardia, dogs, Anorexia.