Prevalence of Dipylidium caninum in Stray and Pet Dogs in Siddharthanagar Municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal

Introduction: Dipylidium caninum (double-pored tapeworm) is a common tapeworm found in the small intestines of dogs, cats, foxes, and occasionally humans. It is a zoonotic parasite that causes dipylidiasis, commonly known as dog tapeworm, which is acquired by ingesting infected fleas. The major goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of D. caninum in stray and pet dogs in Siddharthanagar municipality, along with its various risk factors (age, sex, breed, deworming status, and flea infestation). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from June to August 2021. A total of 200 fecal samples (100 stray and 100 pet) were collected purposively from different wards of Siddharthanagar municipality and examined for the presence of proglottids and eggs of D. caninum. Results: The overall prevalence was found to be 12.5%, with a significantly higher prevalence in stray dogs (18%) than in pet dogs (7%) (P0.05). Similarly, an insignificant difference was observed between dogs aged less than one year (8.0%) and dogs older than one year (15.20%) (P>0.05). Based on the deworming status, the prevalence was higher in non-dewormed dogs (13.87%) than in dewormed dogs (3.70%), but the difference was found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Similarly, significance was found in the flea infestation (P<0.05), with a higher prevalence in flea-infested dogs (20.56%) than in flea-non-infested dogs (3.22%). Also, only 13.5% of dog owners surveyed were aware of canine helminth zoonoses. Conclusion: This study shows a comparatively higher prevalence of D. caninum in stray, non-dewormed, and flea-infested dogs. An awareness program to educate the local community on canine zoonoses, appropriate anti-helminthic treatment, and control of the street dog population might ultimately reduce the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in Siddharthanagar municipality.