INVESTIGATION OF CUTANEOUS AND GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS OF STREET DOGS AT DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

Cutaneous and gastrointerstinal disorders of the street dogs were investigated at Dinajpur districts. In a study of one year starting from July/2009 to June/2010, a total of fifteen street dogs were collected from the Municipal, Dinajpur and HSTU campus during Rabies Control Programme. A thorough necropsy examination was done and the characteristics clinical signs and gross lesions were recorded. Different organs including skins were collected, preserved and processed for histopathological examination. Skin scraps also examined for mite infestation. The most common cutaneous lesions observed were alopecia (93.33%) followed by scale/crust (73.33%), hyperkeratosis (66.67%), puritus (40%), erythema (40%), hyperpigmentation (40%) and seropurulent discharge (20%). The incidence of heart worm (Dirofilaria sp.) (60%), hook worm (Ancylostoma sp.) (100%) and ascariasis (Toxocara sp.) (40%) were detected. Demodex mite, hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and mononuclear cell infiltration in dermis were recorded in the histopathological study. Demodectic mite was detected from the skin scrapings. The study dictates that street dogs of Dinajpur district carried heart worm, hook worm, ascariasis, mite infestation and various dermapathological disorders. Among them heart worm, hookworm, ascariasis and mite infestation have zoonotic importance.