Faecal prevalence, distribution and risk factors associated with canine soil-transmitted helminths contaminating urban parks across Australia

Massetti, Luca; Wiethoelter, Anke; McDonagh, Phillip; Rae, Louise; Marwedel, Lara; Beugnet, Frédéric; Colella, Vito; Traub, Rebecca

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.08.001

Cited by 19 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Another study found a greater proportion of Australian dog parks in tropical regions (91.7%) to be contaminated with STHs compared with those in temperate (39.5%) and subtropical regions (33.3%) [30,39]. The same study found 44.5%, 4.8% and 0.9% of dog parks in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions to be contaminated with A. caninum, respectively [39]. In the final report of the Australian Hookworm Campaign 1919-1924, Sweet described an increase in detected hookworm prevalence north of 32 degrees south latitude and in areas with greater than 1016 mm precipitation annually [40].…”

Section: Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The hot and humid climate of the tropical or subtropical North of Australia favour development and survival of infective stages of STHs in the soil, with dogs from tropical climates found to be 5.6 (95% CI 3.3–9.5) times more likely to be infected with hookworms compared to dogs from non-tropical climate zones in Australia [ 38 ]. Another study found a greater proportion of Australian dog parks in tropical regions (91.7%) to be contaminated with STHs compared with those in temperate (39.5%) and subtropical regions (33.3%) [ 30 , 39 ]. The same study found 44.5%, 4.8% and 0.9% of dog parks in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions to be contaminated with A .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The same study found 44.5%, 4.8% and 0.9% of dog parks in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions to be contaminated with A . caninum , respectively [ 39 ]. In the final report of the Australian Hookworm Campaign 1919–1924, Sweet described an increase in detected hookworm prevalence north of 32 degrees south latitude and in areas with greater than 1016 mm precipitation annually [ 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of human and zoonotic dog soil-transmitted helminth infections in Australian Indigenous communities

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Traub²,

Zendejas-Heredia³

et al. 2022

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infect 1.5 billion people and countless animals worldwide. In Australian Indigenous communities, STH infections have largely remained endemic despite control efforts, suggesting reservoirs of infection may exist. Dogs fulfil various important cultural, social and occupational roles in Australian Indigenous communities and are populous in these settings. Dogs may also harbour zoonotic STHs capable of producing morbidity and mortality in dogs and humans. This review provides an overview of human and zoonotic STH infections, identifies the Australian Indigenous locations affected and the parasite species and hosts involved. The meta-analysis provides estimates of individual study and pooled true prevalence of STH infections in Australian Indigenous communities and identifies knowledge gaps for further research on zoonotic or anthroponotic potential. A systematic literature search identified 45 eligible studies documenting the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, undifferentiated hookworm, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Of these studies, 26 were also eligible for inclusion in meta-analysis to establish true prevalence in the light of imperfect diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity by Rogan-Gladen and Bayesian methods. These studies revealed pooled true prevalence estimates of 18.9% (95% CI 15.8–22.1) for human and canine S. stercoralis infections and 77.3% (95% CI 63.7–91.0) for canine A. caninum infections indicating continued endemicity, but considerably more heterogenous pooled estimates for canine A. ceylanicum infections, and A. duodenale, undifferentiated hookworm and T. trichiura in humans. This review suggests that the prevalence of STHs in Australian Indigenous communities has likely been underestimated, principally based on imperfect diagnostic tests. Potential misclassification of hookworm species in humans and dogs due to outdated methodology, also obscures this picture. High-quality contemporary studies are required to establish current true prevalence of parasite species in all relevant hosts to guide future policy development and control decisions under a culturally sound One Health framework.

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Section: Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of human and zoonotic dog soil-transmitted helminth infections in Australian Indigenous communities

Raw

Traub²,

Zendejas-Heredia³

et al. 2022

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Self Cite

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“…Moreover, Ancylostoma caninum (Rhabditida: Ancylostomatidae) can also be associated with eosinophilic enteritis transmitted through the fecal-oral route [ 152 ]. Both A. caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala (Rhabditida: Ancylostomatidae) are usually transmitted orally through the ingestion of third-stage (L3) larvae in the environment or through the skin (percutaneous route) [ 153 ] and occasionally through the predation of paratenic hosts represented by rodents [ 154 ]. Indeed, it was demonstrated that L3s remain hypobiotic in rodents or other paratenic hosts such as monkeys [ 151 ].…”

Section: Zoonotic Nematodes Of Dogs and Cat Associated With Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic parasites associated with predation by dogs and cats

Roldan

Otranto

2023

Parasites Vectors

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One of the most common behaviors of cats that have an indoor/outdoor lifestyle is to bring hunted “gifts” to their owners, represented by small mammals, reptiles and birds. Access to the outdoors by dogs and cats may represent a problematic issue, since they may be at risk of diseases, traffic accidents and ingestion of toxins. Yet, the impact of this population of roaming dogs and cats predating wildlife is another concerning issue that receives less attention. Despite these risks, most owners still prefer to give outdoor access to their pets to allow them to express their “natural instincts,” such as hunting. Therefore, with a growing population of > 470 million dogs and 373 million cats worldwide, predation not only represents a threat to wildlife, but also a door of transmission for parasitic diseases, some of them of zoonotic concern. In this review, the role played by dogs, and especially cats, in the perpetuation of the biological life cycle of zoonotic parasites through the predation of rodents, reptiles and birds is discussed. Feral and domestics dogs and cats have contributed to the population collapse or extinction of > 63 species of reptiles, mammals and birds. Although the ecological impact of predation on wild populations is well documented, the zoonotic risk of transmission of parasitic diseases has not received significant attention. The parasitic diseases associated to predation vary from protozoan agents, such as toxoplasmosis, to cestodes like sparganosis and even nematodes such as toxocariasis. Raising awareness about predation as a risk of zoonotic parasitic infections in dogs and cats will aid to create responsible ownership and proper actions for controlling feral and free-roaming cat and dog populations worldwide. Graphical Abstract

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“…For many years, anthelmintics have been available to prevent T. canis infection in domestic dogs and the veterinary profession has done much to educate dog owners about the public health significance of T. canis and how it can be readily controlled. This has had dramatic effects in countries such as Australia where the prevalence in domestic dogs has fallen to less than 1% (Palmer et al , 2008; Massetti et al , 2022). Surprisingly, this has not been the case in other Western countries (Deplazes et al , 2011; Mathison & Pritt, 2018) where the parasite is still persisting in large endemic areas despite the availability, as in Australia, of effective anthelmintics (Deplazes et al , 2011), perhaps due to human complacency or variable levels of dog owner education.…”

Section: Emerging Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic helminths – why the challenge remains

Thompson

2023

J. Helminthol.

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Helminth zoonoses remain a global problem to public health and the economy of many countries. Polymerase chain reaction-based techniques and sequencing have resolved many taxonomic issues and are now essential to understanding the epidemiology of helminth zoonotic infections and the ecology of the causative agents. This is clearly demonstrated from research on Echinococcus (echinococcosis) and Trichinella (trichinosis). Unfortunately, a variety of anthropogenic factors are worsening the problems caused by helminth zoonoses. These include cultural factors, urbanization and climate change. Wildlife plays an increasingly important role in the maintenance of many helminth zoonoses making surveillance and control increasingly difficult. The emergence or re-emergence of helminth zoonoses such as Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Toxocara, Dracunculus and Thelazia exacerbate an already discouraging scenario compounding the control of a group of long neglected diseases.

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Faecal prevalence, distribution and risk factors associated with canine soil-transmitted helminths contaminating urban parks across Australia

Cited by 19 publications

References 71 publications

A systematic review and meta-analysis of human and zoonotic dog soil-transmitted helminth infections in Australian Indigenous communities

A systematic review and meta-analysis of human and zoonotic dog soil-transmitted helminth infections in Australian Indigenous communities

Zoonotic parasites associated with predation by dogs and cats

Zoonotic helminths – why the challenge remains

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