Descriptive profile of a rural canine population in Juerana Village, Aritaguá district, city of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 2012.

Abstract

In rural communities, dogs provide important and essential roles, such as hunters, companions and security. Often, dog owners lack sufficient knowledge of canine management or are indifferent to their dogs’ well-being resulting in the spread of diseases to human, animal and the surrounding environment. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was taken, in March 2012, in order to determine the canine population profile of Juerana Village, the socio-economic profile of the dog owners and evaluate and analyze whether owners are applying the principles of responsible dog care. The data revealed the dog-to-human ratio was 1:3,7, 53% were female dogs, 79% were young dogs, 71% were semi-restricted dogs, 71% of dogs access to interior of the family house, 45,1% of the household received minimum salary or less. The results indicate that the management of the dogs was inadequate and the need for Public Health Services to implement a dog population control program and zoonotic diseases prevention and control programs in this community.

Canine tungiasis: High prevalence in a tourist region in Bahia state, Brazil

“…Throughout the year, the Village of Juerana receives tourists from diverse places who enjoy the bars and restaurants scattered throughout the village, especially on the banks on the Rio Almada. In this context, the risk factors identified by us and others, such as high number of semi-restricted infested dogs (94.4%), the lack of paved streets, poor hygiene and below average socioeconomic conditions as observed by Harvey et al (2013), put the residents as well as the tourists at risk of disease. Many national and international tourists are infested while traveling to and within Brazil.…”

“…In March 2012, a previous descriptive study of the canine population of the Village of Juerana showed a dog to human ratio of 1:3.7 (Harvey et al, 2013). In this paper, considering the same human population of that time with the recent number of dogs found (114) in the 104 surveyed households, this ratio would be 1:3.2, reaffirming the high number of dogs on the site, perpetuating the risk of infestation for people living and visiting that community.…”

“…Garbage is left in inappropriate places, and collected once or twice a week by the municipality of Ilhéus. The dog population corresponds to 27.1% of the human population, with a 1:3.7 dog to human ratio and 92% of them are semi-restricted (Harvey et al, 2013). Tourists and residents usually visit the bars and restaurants and go swimming in the Almada River.…”

Estimate of the canine and feline population in a municipality of thenortheastsemi-arid: a view on responsible owner ship

“…The number of cats with access to the street is higher than that of dogs, which may be a determining factor in the low proportion of animals over 4 years old, suggesting a lower longevity of cats in the municipality. The number of semi domesticated animals may be a factor in reducing the rates of elderly peo since animals with free access to the street are less long-lived when compared to domiciled ones, as they are subject to the risk of being run over, attacked and poisoned Cardoso, 2012). We believe that the number of dogs and cats with access to the street, associated with a high rate of animals with reproductive potential, leads to the rate of young individuals observed.…”

Tungiasis: Participation of Cats and Chickens in the Dispersion and Maintenance of the Disease in an Endemic Tourist Area in Brazil

“…The project was developed in a semi-rural endemic coastal community frequented by tourists (Figure 1), Vila Juerana, located in the district of Aritagua, part of the municipality of Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil (S 14.96767 • , W 039.32436 • ) [37]. The predominant vegetation type is Atlantic Forest, with the presence of beaches and mangrove forests.…”