Incidence of Parasites in Dog Feces Collected on the Streets in Tokyo Metropolis and Neighboring Areas in 1985-2005

Abstract

Incidence of parasites was epidemically studied by the individual examination of 50 canine fecal samples collected on the streets in Tokyo Metropolis and its neighboring areas once every five years in 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. The parasite species detected in the research were coccidian protozoa, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, Dipylidium caninum, Strongyloides planiceps, Ancylostoma caninum, Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis and Trichuris vulpis. The incidence rate of most of these species decreased year by year, but those of D. caninum and T. canis have been still high. The results suggested the possibility that dog feces left on the streets will be the source of parasitic infection among dogs and also to humans from dogs.