Coprological examination of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and their life stages in humans and dogs and in soil was carried out in a low income tea estate community in the Central Province. This community has limited access to public health facilities and veterinary services and lives in close contact with free roaming dogs. Parasites in faeces were isolated and identified morphologically and morphometrically using microscopical methods, followed by molecular confirmation of selected protozoans. Soil samples collected from the neighbourhood were analyzed for soil inhabiting parasitic stages. Of the 50 dogs examined, 86.0% was infected with one or more parasites with a significantly higher number of dogs having mixed infections than single infections. Dogs harboured 13 GI parasites, of which nine were known zoonotic species: Toxocara canis, Strongyloides sp., Entamoeba coli, hookworm, Trichuris sp., Giardia duodenalis, Spirocerca lupi, Toxascaris sp., and Taenia sp. Additionally Entamoeba histolytica, coccidia, unidentified trematodes and cestodes were also found in dogs. Six types of GI parasites were identified in humans, of these four types, E. coli, G. duodenalis, Strongyloides sp. and Blastocystis sp. were potentially acquired from animals. A total of 16 soil samples were analyzed, of which 44.4% were carrying infective nematode L 3 larvae and eggs, cysts of E. coli and eggs of T. canis all of which were zoonotic. High prevalence of zoonotic infections in dog population and in soil poses a serious health threat to the community. Results highlight the importance of regular deworming of both humans and dogs and reducing environmental contamination, a One Health approach incorporating veterinary and public health interventions in the surveillance and management of zoonoses.

Background: Tick infestations and tick-borne diseases have become a major emerging health concern of dogs in Sri Lanka. Information about tick species infesting dogs and their geographic distribution in Sri Lanka is largely unknown. Here we determined the tick species infesting the dogs and their distribution, and described the life cycle parameters of the dominant dog tick species under laboratory conditions.Methods: An island-wide, cross-sectional survey of tick species infesting the domestic dog was carried out, and the life cycle of the major dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was studied under laboratory conditions.Results: A total of 3,026 ticks were collected from 1,219 dogs of different breeds in all 25 districts in the three climatic zones: Wet, Dry, and Intermediate zones. Eight species in ve genera were identi ed: Rh. sanguineus (63.4%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (22.0%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (12.5%), Haemaphysalis intermedia (0.9%), Haemaphysalis turturis (0.6%), Amblyomma integrum (0.4%), Dermacentor auratus (0.2%) and Hyalomma sp (0.06%). The brown dog tick, Rh. sanguineus was the dominant species in the Dry and Wet zones, while Rh. haemaphysaloides was the dominant species in the Intermediate zone. Species diversity (presented as Shannon diversity index H) in the three was 1.135, 1.021and 0.849 in Intermediate, Dry and Wet zones, respectively. Adults formed 94.7% with a signi cantly higher number of females, and the rest were nymphs. Rhipicephalus sanguineus preferred the anterior side of the host body, speci cally the inner and outer side of the ear. In contrast, Rh. haemaphysaloides preferred the posterior side, mainly the fore and hind limbs. The three-host life cycle of Rh. sanguineus was completed within 70-126 days, all three stages successfully fed on the New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions. The mean Reproductive E ciency Index (REI) and Reproductive Fitness Index (RFI) were 50.8±9.69 and 9.1±5.01, respectively. Larger females had higher reproductive success. Conclusion:The dominant dog tick species and the species diversity varied in different climatic regions of Sri Lanka. The three-host life cycle of Rh. sanguineus was successfully completed on the New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions. Information on diversity, distribution and life cycle parameters is fundamental for studies of canine tick-borne infections, zoonoses, and their epidemiology.

Amblyomma integrum Karsch, 1879 (Acari: Ixodidae) is one of four Amblyomma Koch, 1844 species with eyes found in southern India and Sri Lanka. The immature stages of this species were poorly described. Therefore, accurate identification is difficult. Here we re-describe the male, female, nymph and larva of A. integrum and illustrate all the stages in greater detail for the first time. A set of diagnostic morphological characters is defined to distinguish this species from other sympatric species of eyed Amblyomma in any parasitic stage of development. Adults of A. integrum parasitize mostly various larger mammals whereas nymphs and larvae use mostly larger and medium mammals. Amblyomma integrum is recorded from India (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Orissa and Tamil Nadu States) and throughout Sri Lanka.

Amblyomma integrum is a hard tick infesting mainly buffalo and cattle and has been identified as an agent of human otoacariasis in Sri Lanka. Data on the life cycle pattern of A. integrum were collected by experimental infestation on New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions. Wild-caught females laid 55-7389 eggs for 2-35 days after spending a latent period of 10-25 days. Egg incubation period was 31-105 days and the newly emerged larvae started feeding after 4-11 days. Larvae dropped off after feeding and they moulted into nymphs after 10-16 days. Nymphs actively fed on rabbits for 4-8 days and dropped off. Engorged nymphs took 11-25 days for moulting before emerging as adults. The male:female sex ratio of the adults moulted under laboratory conditions was 11:9. All the stages showed periodicity in engorgement and dropping off. The three-host life cycle was completed within 74-245 days with an average of 152.9 days. The mean Reproductive Efficiency Index (REI) and Reproductive Aptitude Index (RAI) were 3.6 and 1.1, respectively. Females hatched in the laboratory did not successfully feed on New Zealand white rabbits. The wild-caught females which fed on buffaloes had prolonged pre-oviposition and oviposition periods, low REI, low RAI and low eclosion under controlled laboratory conditions compared to other tick species. Although larva and nymphs of A. integrum successfully fed on New Zealand white rabbits under laboratory conditions, full life cycle was not completed because the adult females did not feed on rabbits.