Muluken Yayeh, Mastewal Birhan, Akililu Ayalew, Araya Menigstu
The study found that taeniid infections were common in dogs in Bahir Dar and Gondar. The main predictors were age, sex, clinical symptoms, free-roaming behavior, and a lack of owner knowledge. To lower the risk of taeniid infection in the study areas, integrated control measures like routine deworming; responsible dog management, public education, and appropriate offal disposal were suggested.
BACKGROUND: The zoonotic cestodes such as Taenia and Echinococcus species belonging to family taeniidae are of paramount importance in the developing world since they pose serious public health impacts. Dogs serve as definitive hosts, shedding eggs into the environment that can infect livestock and humans.
AIM: To determine the occurrence of Taeniid infections in dogs, assess the risk factors and evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of dog owners.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2025 to February 2026 in Bahir Dar and Gondar cities, Ethiopia. A total of 424 dog fecal samples were collected, and standard fecal flotation techniques were used to examine the eggs. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on host, management, and owner-related factors. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression in Stata 17, with P < 0.05 considered significant.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of taeniid infections was 29.5%, with dogs showing clinical signs such as diarrhea and proglottids in the feces having the highest infection rates (81.1%). Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations with age, sex, clinical signs, roaming behavior, feeding patterns, and owner knowledge. Multivariate analysis confirmed that old age (AOR = 2.8, P = 0.024), female sex (AOR = 0.43, P = 0.007), clinical signs (AOR = 25.9, P = 0.001), free-roaming behavior (AOR = 0.05, P = 0.001), and inadequate owner knowledge (AOR = 0.38, P = 0.029) as independent risk factors.
CONCLUSION: The study found that taeniid infections were common in dogs in Bahir Dar and Gondar. The main predictors were age, sex, clinical symptoms, free-roaming behavior, and a lack of owner knowledge. To lower the risk of taeniid infection in the study areas, integrated control measures like routine deworming; responsible dog management, public education, and appropriate offal disposal were suggested.