Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 21. (Budapest, 1988)
Parasit, hang. 21. 1968 Prevalence of intestinal helminthoses in dogs and cats Dr. Éva FOK — Dr. Csilla TAKÁTS — Dr. Beáta SMIDOVÁ* — Dr. Sára KECSKEMÉTHY*— Dr. Miklós KARAKAS* Helminthological Resarch Laboratory, Department of General Zoology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary "Prevalence of intestinal helminthoses in dogs and cats" - Fok, É. - Takáts, Cs. - Smidova, B. - Kecskeméthy, S. - Karakas, M. - Parasit. Hung., 21: 53-69. 1988. ABSTRACT. By the flotation method a total of 1674 canine and 150 feline faecal samples, as well as 200 canine samples collected in 11 parks of Budapest were examined, in order to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal worm infections. On the whole, 58. 7% of the dogs, 36. 7% of the cats and 25% of faecal samples collected in parks proved to be infected. The incidence of eggs (%) in the 1674 and 200 canine faecal samples was as follows: Trichuris vulpis 47.5%; 14.5, Ancylostomatidae 15.3; 1.0, Capillaria spp. 3.2; 0.5, Toxocara canis 6.8; 5.5, Toxascaris leonina 4.1; 1.5, Taenia-type 2.9; 2.0, Dipylidium caninum 0. 7; 3. 0. Toxocara mystax infection was the most frequent in cats (32%). The incidence rate of other eggs (%) was: Toxascaris leonina 2.0, Ancylostomatidae 1. 3, Tae- nia-type 0.7, and Dipylidium spp. 0.7. The prevalence of parasitic infection was also evaluated according to the provenience, age and sex of the animals. The effectiveness of different flotation media (Breza' s vs. the so-called "Flotol" and Breza' s vs. potassium carbonate) was compared. KEYWORDS. Nematode, intestinal helminths, dog, cat, prevalence, faecal examination, Hungary. During the last 15-20 years the number of dogs and cats kept as pets has increased considerably all over the world, thus in Hungary too. Official records of anti-rabies vaccinations indicate that there are more than 75 000 dogs in Budapest, and in Hungary>about 750 000 people pay dog-tax after one or several dogs. The actual number of dogs is estimated at more than one million, that of cats is even higher, and the number of stray animals is considerable. All over the world more and more researchers study the ecological and public health hazardii associated with the increasing number of pets. ARAMBULO and STEELE (1976) summarized the environmental problems caused by dogs living in towns (these also apply to the stray bats living in towns): 1. Environmental contamination and inconvenience caused by defecation and urination; 2. Contamination of the environment with parasites excreted in the faeces; Final year students of veterinary medicine choosing the subject for their thesis.
