Review of the Risks of Some Canine Zoonoses from Free-Roaming Dogs in the Post-Disaster Setting of Latin America

Abstract

Simple SummaryFree-roaming dogs are seldom considered an important public health risk following natural disasters in developing regions. With the high number of recognized canine zoonoses and evidence of increased transmission of some significant diseases this is a risk that may be being overlooked. Communities with free-roaming dogs and endemic canine zoonoses of importance should be developing appropriate community preparedness and response plans to mitigate the occurrence of increased transmission following disasters.AbstractIn the absence of humane and sustainable control strategies for free-roaming dogs (FRD) and the lack of effective disaster preparedness planning in developing regions of the world, the occurrence of canine zoonoses is a potentially important yet unrecognized issue. The existence of large populations of FRDs in Latin America predisposes communities to a host of public health problems that are all potentially exacerbated following disasters due to social and environmental disturbances. There are hundreds of recognized canine zoonoses but a paucity of recommendations for the mitigation of the risk of emergence following disasters. Although some of the symptoms of diseases most commonly reported in human populations following disasters resemble a host of canine zoonoses, there is little mention in key public health documents of FRDs posing any significant risk. We highlight five neglected canine zoonoses of importance in Latin America, and offer recommendations for pre- and post-disaster preparedness and planning to assist in mitigation of the transmission of canine zoonoses arising from FRDs following disasters.

Challenges Encountered During the Veterinary Disaster Response: An Example from Chile

“…Similar to other Latin American countries, Chile has many free-roaming dogs (FRD), the majority of which are owned [19,20,21]. In this case, preparedness plans developed in other countries may not be relevant since the basic social structure (e.g., dog management, cultural values), the pre-existing infrastructure (e.g., animal-related legislation, shelters, veterinary clinics) and the resources available (e.g., medical supplies and equipment, trained personnel, national funds) may differ significantly between countries.…”

“…However, in the absence of a tailored companion animal plan for Chile, there was no organized care, treatment or sheltering for dogs and they were left to roam freely, aggravating the negative effects of having FRDs in non-disaster times and potentially providing a source for canine zoonoses to vulnerable in-contact residents [19,32,33]. The study of a CDV outbreak provided a valuable account of diseases that can occur in the animals themselves.…”

“…Following Hurricane Katrina, Levy et al [13] identified specific infectious disease risks in rescued cats and dogs, and Zottarelli and Hunt et al studied the human psychological and emotional factors following the loss of their pets [14,15]. Risks of emergence of zoonotic and other infectious diseases following disasters have been reported by Ivers and Ryan [16], Ketai et al [17], Wang et al [18], Garde et al [19,20] and Pasquali et al [21], among others, all of which lend support to the mandatory inclusion of pets into disaster planning.…”

“…This is probably in part due to the immense burden of responsibility placed on these entities for restoration of infrastructure and human services, but is also indicative of a low value placed on the health and welfare of companion animals and the lack of appreciation for the potential for an increase in the multi-faceted problems that occur when dogs are abandoned or left to roam [19,20,31]. …”

Review on Chemical Sterilization of Male Dogs.

“…A summary of the problems arising from stray dogs is given in Table 1. The most important canine zoonoses include rabies, leptospirosis, Chagas disease, echinococcosis, and leishmaniasis (Garde et al, 2013). Many of these canine pathogens are shed in the feces (e.g.…”