Parasitismo gastrointestinal en perros de comunas de Santiago de diferente nivel socioeconómico

Abstract

The prevalence of canine parasites was estimated in three counties from the Metropolitan Region with different socioeconomical conditions which were Providencia (ABC1 level), Quinta Normal (D level) and La Pintana (E level). Faecal samples of 582 dogs were examined by Zinc flotation method, modified Teleman method and staining of faecal smears with Ziehl- Neelsen. A third of the dogs (30.2%) were found positive to some type of parasitism with significant higher prevalence in younger dogs (3 to 6 months old) with 49% of infection versus 25.6% of older dogs. The percentage of positive samples was significantly higher in stray dogs than those kept indoors (40% versus 28%). Significant differences in the frequency of parasites were also found between La Pintana and Providencia, (odds ratio of 2.61), and between La Pintana and Quinta Normal (odds ratio of 1.85) p < 0.05), but no differences were found between Providencia and Quinta Normal. A total of 118 samples were positive to helminths (67%) and 41samples to protozoa (23.3%), as single infections while mixed infections were recorded in 17 cases (9.7%). © 2007 Sociedad Chilena de Parasitología. Organo Oficial de la Federación Latinoamericana de Parasitólogos.