[Prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus determined with polymerase chain reaction in dogs in Aydın district].

OBJECTIVE

In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence of E. granulosus in the Aydın district.

METHODS

Clean and fresh faeces samples were collected off the ground from owned dogs (n=100; 25 female, 75 male) with the range of 6-16 months old. These faeces samples were obtained in 13 villages from five different locations (Centre, Söke, Çine, Bozdoğan and Kuyucak) of the Aydın district. The prevalence of E. granulosus was investigated with PCR and prior to applications of molecular techniques, faeces samples were investigated with macroscopic and floatation methods

RESULTS

E. granulosus was determined in only one dog (1%; 1/100) and Toxocara canis (11%), Ancylostoma caninum (%3), Taenia spp. (2%) and Capillaria spp. (1%) eggs were also identified.

CONCLUSION

Current prevalence (1%) of E. granulosus in this study is lower than the other studies conducted in different parts of Turkey. Determination of E. granulosus with PCR in faeces without determining any parasites with either macroscopic or microscopic examinations could indicate the potential risk of dog faeces for animal owners, veterinarians and parasitology laboratory technicians.