Free-ranging rural dogs are highly infected with helminths, contaminating environment nine times more than urban dogs

Tull, Ants; Valdmann, Harri; Rannap, Riinu; Kaasiku, Triin; Tammeleht, Egle; Saarma, Urmas

doi:10.1017/s0022149x22000116

Cited by 4 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…To inactivate eggs of zoonotic parasites, for example Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l., which are endemic in Estonia (Moks et al, 2006(Moks et al, , 2008Laurimaa et al, 2015aLaurimaa et al, , 2015b, samples were kept at −80°C for a minimum of 7 days. Data for dog samples (n = 84), that are described in detail in Tull et al (2022) and are from the same study area, were also included to provide a comparison with other mammalian predators.…”

Section: Study Area and Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A hypervariable fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region that enables distinguishing wolves and dogs in Estonia, was PCR-amplified and sequenced as described in Plumer et al (2018). This mtDNA fragment allows also distinguishing other predators (Tull et al, 2022).…”

Section: Molecular Identification Of Mammalian Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The high burden of helminth ova in scats of wild mammals and dogs, most of them situated near privates, indicates that rural environment poses a potential risk to human health. It is also worth noting that the parasite burden of dogs and cats in rural areas in Estonia is much higher compared to urban areas (Tull et al, 2020(Tull et al, , 2022.…”

Section: Zoonotic Helminths Of Wild Predators and Rural Dogs As A Pot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from wild mammals, dogs can also be an important source of helminth infection, both in rural and urban areas. Recent investigations have found that about 10% of scats of urban dogs in Estonia were infected with the eggs of helminths (Tull et al ., 2020), whereas in rural areas the infection rate was significantly higher, reaching up to 87% (Tull et al ., 2022). A zoonotic tapeworm parasite Echinococcus granulosus has also been recorded in dogs in Estonia (Laurimaa et al ., 2015 c ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prevalence of zoonotic helminths in scats of different mammalian predators (n = 315) of which 287 were infected Dog data are fromTull et al (2022). The first number is per cent (%) and the number of samples (n) is in parentheses.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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High overlap of zoonotic helminths between wild mammalian predators and rural dogs – an emerging One Health concern?

et al. 2022

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The concept of One Health emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health and is of growing significance, in part owing to the problems related to emerging infectious diseases of wildlife origin. Wild mammalian predators are a potential risk factor for transmission of zoonotic pathogens to domesticated animals and humans. This is especially relevant in rural areas, where transmission of zoonotic pathogens can occur particularly efficiently when free-ranging dogs are present. The main aim of this study was to determine helminth infections among wild mammalian predators and evaluate the overlap between helminth faunas of wild mammals and dogs. Scat samples of predators were collected in coastal areas of Western Estonia and genetic methodology applied for the correct identification of predator species from their scat. Parasitic helminths of mammalian predators in the scat samples were analysed and compared with dog data from a previous study. High helminth prevalence (~90%) was found in dominant predator species in the area, namely the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and golden jackal (Canis aureus). Moreover, the helminth fauna of both wild species, including potentially zoonotic helminths, overlapped largely with that of rural dogs in the same area. The results, together with the ones from earlier parasitological studies among humans in Estonia, emphasize the potential risk of pathogen transmission from wild mammalian predators to dogs and from dogs to humans, making parasitic diseases of wildlife a One Health concern.

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Section: Study Area and Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Molecular Identification Of Mammalian Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Zoonotic Helminths Of Wild Predators and Rural Dogs As A Pot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High overlap of zoonotic helminths between wild mammalian predators and rural dogs – an emerging One Health concern?

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Ancylostoma ceylanicum and other zoonotic canine hookworms: neglected public and animal health risks in the Asia–Pacific region

Tenorio,

Tabios,

Inpankaew

et al. 2024

Animal Diseases

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Zoonotic hookworm infections remain a significant public health problem, causing nearly 500 million cases globally and approximately four million disability-adjusted life years lost annually. More than one-fifth of these cases are attributed to Ancylostoma ceylanicum, an emerging zoonotic health issue in the Asia-Pacific region. This review presents key research gaps regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, control, prevention and elimination of A. ceylanicum and other canine zoonotic hookworms as neglected health threats. A. ceylanicum is the second most prevalent human hookworm in the region; it is the most common hookworm among dogs and cats-reservoirs of zoonotic infections. Previous population genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that A. ceylanicum has three possible transmission dynamics: zoonotic, animal-only, and human-only pathways. The actual burden of zoonotic ancylostomiasis in most endemic countries remains unknown due to the use of parasitological techniques (e.g., Kato-Katz thick smear and floatation techniques) that have reduced diagnostic performance and do not allow accurate species identification in helminth surveys. The emergence of benzimidazole resistance in soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), including hookworms, is a concern due to the protracted implementation of mass drug administration (MDA). Resistance is conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that occur in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene. These mutations have been reported in drug-resistant A. caninum but have not been found in A. ceylanicum in the field. A. ceylanicum remains understudied in the Asia-Pacific region. The zoonotic nature of the parasite warrants investigation of its occurrence in human and animal reservoir hosts to understand the dynamics of zoonotic transmission in different endemic foci. The detection of benzimidazole resistance-associated SNPs in zoonotic hookworms from Asia-Pacific countries has yet to be thoroughly explored. Considering the high level of hookworm endemicity in the region, the circulation of resistant isolates between humans and animals potentially presents a significant One Health threat that can undermine current MDA and proposed animal deworming-based control efforts.

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Retrospective Survey of Dog and Cat Endoparasites in Ireland: Antigen Detection

Waal

Aungier

Lawlor

et al. 2022

Animals

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Endoparasites of dogs and cats, play an important role in both veterinary medicine and public health. Untreated and stray dogs and cats, in particular, play an important role in contaminating the environment with important zoonotic parasites. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray dogs and cats using highly sensitive and specific copro-antigen tests. Archive faecal samples from previous surveys conducted between 2016–2019 from dogs (n = 789) and cats (n = 241) were included in this study. The IDEXX Fecal Dx™ antigen panel was used for the detection of Toxocara, hookworms, Trichuris and the SNAP™ Giardia antigen assay was used for the detection of Giardia infection. Giardia duodenalis was the most common parasite (26%, n = 205) detected in the dogs, followed by ascarids (17.6%, n = 139) and hookworms (5.3%, n = 42). Trichuris vulpis was only detected in 1 dog. Ascarids (23.2%, n = 56) was the most common parasite detected in the cats, followed by Giardia (12.9%, n = 31) and hookworms (n = 7, 2.9%). No whipworms were detected in cats. Overall, there was little difference in the positivity between sexes in both dogs and cats. However, in terms of age, adolescent dogs (<3 years) and kittens (<1 year) had the highest parasite prevalence overall, with G. duodenalis and ascarids being the most prevalent. This study shows a high prevalence of parasite infection in untreated and stray dogs and cats in the greater Dublin area in Ireland. Since they live in synanthropic conditions and can roam over vast distances they can contaminate public areas and pose a risk to both humans and owned pets that utilise these spaces. It is therefore important to raise public awareness and increase the knowledge on zoonotic parasites.

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Free-ranging rural dogs are highly infected with helminths, contaminating environment nine times more than urban dogs

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

High overlap of zoonotic helminths between wild mammalian predators and rural dogs – an emerging One Health concern?

High overlap of zoonotic helminths between wild mammalian predators and rural dogs – an emerging One Health concern?

Ancylostoma ceylanicum and other zoonotic canine hookworms: neglected public and animal health risks in the Asia–Pacific region

Retrospective Survey of Dog and Cat Endoparasites in Ireland: Antigen Detection

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