AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Intestinal parasites such as Toxocara canis, Giardia spp and hookworm represent a risk for dogs in most countries worldwide including South Africa, they can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea and anemia due to blood loss. But the hygiene hypothesis discusses the possibility that a decrease in parasite infections at early ages increases the incidence of allergic and autoimmune diseases in developed countries. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of infection of the different intestinal parasites with focus on Toxocara canis, Hookworm and Giarda spp in dogs using microscopic and molecular techniques. In addition, the association between Toxocara canis, hookworm and Giardia spp infections and animal health including allergic manifestations in the dog will be part of the study. This will be done by looking if an association can be found between dogs with intestinal parasites and there body condition score. In this study the following hypothesis is tested namely: if there is an association between intestinal parasites and the body condition of dogs. Feces collected from the dogs were microscopically examined for intestinal parasites. These results from the microscopical examination together with the body condition score of the examined dogs were statistically analyzed using spss which resulted in an odss ratio. A significant outcome was not realized, so there isn’t association between intestinal parasites and the body condition score in the examined dogs.