Risk factors for gastrointestinal parasite infections of dogs living around protected areas of the Atlantic Forest: implications for human and wildlife health

Abstract

Despite the ubiquity of domestic dogs, their role as zoonotic reservoirs and the large number of studies concerning parasites in urban dogs, rural areas in Brazil, especially those at the wildlife-domestic animal-human interface, have received little attention from scientists and public health managers. This paper reports a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of gastrointestinal parasites of rural dogs living in farms around Atlantic Forest fragments. Through standard parasitological methods (flotation and sedimentation), 13 parasite taxa (11 helminths and two protozoans) were found in feces samples from dogs. The most prevalent were the nematode Ancylostoma (47%) followed by Toxocara (18%) and Trichuris (8%). Other less prevalent (<2%) parasites found were Capillaria, Ascaridia, Spirocerca, Taeniidae, Acantocephala, Ascaris, Dipylidium caninum, Toxascaris, and the protozoans Cystoisospora and Eimeria. Mixed infections were found in 36% of samples, mostly by Ancylostoma and Toxocara. Previous deworming had no association with infections, meaning that this preventive measure is being incorrectly performed by owners. Regarding risk factors, dogs younger than one year were more likely to be infected with Toxocara, and purebred dogs with Trichuris. The number of cats in the households was positively associated with Trichuris infection, while male dogs and low body scores were associated with mixed infections. The lack of associations with dog free-ranging behavior and access to forest or villages indicates that infections are mostly acquired around the households. The results highlight the risk of zoonotic and wildlife parasite infections from dogs and the need for monitoring and controlling parasites of domestic animals in human-wildlife interface areas.Keywords: Canis familiaris, endoparasites, human-wildlife interface, zoonosis, protected areas.Fatores de risco para infecções parasitárias gastrointestinais em cães do entorno de áreas protegidas da Mata Atlântica: implicações para a saúde humana e da vida selvagem ResumoApesar da ubiquidade dos cães domésticos, de seu papel como reservatório de doenças, e do grande número de estudos sobre parasitas de cães urbanos, as áreas rurais no Brasil, especialmente aquelas na interface entre animais silvestres -animais domésticos -humanos, tem recebido pouca atenção de cientistas e gestores de saúde pública. Este artigo relata um estudo epidemiológico seccional de parasitas gastrointestinais de cães rurais em propriedades no entorno de fragmentos de Mata Atlântica. Através de métodos parasitológicos como flutuação e sedimentação, 13 táxons de parasitas (11 helmintos e dois protozoários) foram encontrados em amostras de fezes dos cães. O mais prevalente foi o nematóide Ancylostoma (47%), seguido por Toxocara (18%) e Trichuris (8%). Outros parasitas menos prevalentesBraz.

Enteric parasitic infections in children and dogs in resource-poor communities in northeastern Brazil: Identifying priority prevention and control areas

“…Studies that demonstrate social inequality in health are not new [52]. The strong association of poverty with the endemic of enteric parasites is very clear in this study.…”

Intestinal parasites in cancer patients in the South of Brazil

“…Although there is controversy regarding the sharing of parasitic infections between healthy domestic animals and humans, patients with severe immunodeficiency and malnourished children may be affected by opportunistic parasitic diseases, such as those caused by Cryptosporidium spp. (Curi et al, 2016;Bowman and Lucio-Forster, 2010). Even though there have been studies defining giardiasis as a zoonosis (Feng and Xiao, 2011), the genotype and subtype level division has reduced scientific acceptance of zoonotic transmission likelihood.…”

Frequency of enteroparasitic infections and serum positivity for Toxocara spp. in children from a public day care center in Southern Brazil

“…infection, contact with dogs and soil were the most frequent. Contact with dogs has been a widely demonstrated factor in epidemiological studies of toxocariasis and enteroparasitic infections (Macpherson, 2013;Cassenote et al, 2014;Santos et al, 2015, Curi et al, 2017Jeske et al, 2018). Although the day care was walled and fenced in, it is quite possible to contaminate the soil with parasites through animal feces from outside of the day care facility.…”