Abstract

Objective: Ethiopian dog and cat owners' knowledge, practice, and attitude (KAP) regarding gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and related zoonosis in various regions of the nation is yet unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the KAP toward dog and cat gastrointestinal parasites and associated zoonosis.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire interview survey was conducted on 272 dog and cat owners in Bishoftu, Dukem, and Addis Ababa, central Ethiopia, from February 2022 to April 2023.
Results: The majority, 191 (70.2%), of the study participants were male, and 141 (51.8%) of them fall in the age range of 31–50 years old. According to the survey, 217 (79.8%) of the participants were aware of dog and cat GI parasitic zoonosis, and the majority, 185 (68%), of them were found to think that GI parasitosis is a serious disease. Of the participants, 185 (68%) were aware that pet ownership can pose health risks. The survey disclosed that dog and cat owners had an overall good knowledge (score = 54.6% and 63.9%, respectively), positive attitude (score = 82.1% and 84.1%, respectively), and poor practices (score = 46% and 37.6%, respectively) towards GI parasites of dogs and cats.
Conclusion: Dog and cat owners had good knowledge, a positive attitude, and poor practices regarding GI parasites on dogs and cats. Therefore, dog and cat owners should implement best practices and remain up to date with the latest knowledge for GI parasite prevention and control.

Key words: Gastrointestinal parasites; Pet; KAP; Zoonosis