High density of fox and cat faeces in kitchen gardens and resulting rodent exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

The faeces of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus), and the domestic cat, Felis catus (Linnaeus), can be responsible for spreading eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 and oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) into the environment. The accidental ingestion of these eggs or oocysts, through consumption of raw fruits or vegetables grown in or in contact with contaminated soil, can lead to alveolar echinococcosis (AE) or toxoplasmosis in humans. The present study provides a quantitative assessment of the faecal deposition by foxes and cats in kitchen gardens where fruits and vegetables are grown and its consequences for zoonosis transmission. The density of definitive host faeces is considered as one of the main factors in infection risk for intermediate hosts. The density of fox and cat faeces, as well as the prevalence of both AE and toxoplasmosis in rodent populations (contaminated by ingestion of eggs or oocysts), were compared within and outside kitchen gardens. Our results showed that the mean density of fox faeces did not significantly differ between kitchen gardens and habitat edges (0.29 ± 0.04 faeces/m vs 0.22 ± 0.02 faeces/m), the latter being known as an area of high fox faeceal densities. The density of cat faeces was significantly higher within the kitchen garden than outside (0.86 ± 0.22 faeces/m vs 0.04 ± 0.02 faeces/m). The sampled kitchen gardens might therefore be considered as possible hotspots for both fox and cat defecation. Of the 130 rodents trapped, 14% were infected by at least one species of fox or cat intestinal parasite. These rodents were significantly more often infected when they were exposed to a kitchen garden. These results suggest that the deposit of fox and cat faeces in kitchen gardens would significantly impact the risk of human exposure to E. multilocularis and T. gondii. and should be prevented using effective means.

Hunting Poses Only a Low Risk for Alveolar Echinococcosis

“…Studies show that pets, dogs, and cats excrete infectious E. multilocularis eggs (6, 8–10). The case-control study from Tyrol, in which hunting poses a risk, also showed a connection between cats and AE in western Austria (25).…”

“…The raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ) as neozoon species plays a similar role as the red fox as final host (4, 5). Also, pets, especially dogs, can also act as final hosts and contaminate the environment by excreting infective E. multilocularis eggs (6–10). Humans acquire the infection by peroral ingestion of E. multilocularis eggs present in contaminated soil, food, or animal skins (6, 11, 12).…”

A Sensitive, One-Way Sequential Sieving Method to Isolate Helminths’ Eggs and Protozoal Oocysts from Lettuce for Genetic Identification

“…Furthermore, a range of zoonotic parasites is transmitted to humans via environmental stages excreted in animal faeces. Intestinal zoonotic helminths and protozoa of free-roaming canids including domestic dogs and foxes as well as those from free-roaming domestic cats play a major role in contaminating the environment, including recreational areas, private kitchen gardens and agricultural areas, with resistant parasite stages [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Especially, the uncontrolled growth of stray dog populations in South America, Africa, large parts of Asia and Southern Europe represent an emerging “One Health” problem as a source of zoonoses [ 10 ].…”

What evidence exists on the impact of specific ecosystem components and functions on infectious diseases? A systematic map

“…The other studies focused on landscape-related exposures compared outcomes in various habitats but their designs were too different to form a group for synthesis: Bastien et al [94] explored the interface between wild and domestic definitive hosts (respectively foxes and cats) and tested the effect on human prevalence; Hegglin et al [95] compared infection in foxes in different types of habitats (urban, border, and peri-urban habitats); Robardet et al [96] also studied the infection in foxes along an urbanization gradient, in relation with intermediate host populations.…”