Parasitic Zoonoses in Humans and Their Dogs from a Rural Community of Tropical Mexico

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was made on 89 inhabitants and their dogs from a rural community of Yucatan, Mexico, to determine the serological prevalence of some zoonotic parasitic agents. Samples were taken to monitor the presence and intensity of infection with gastrointestinal parasites in dogs. In humans, the serological prevalence of T. canis, T. gondii, and T. spiralis was 29.2%, 91.0%, and 6.7%, respectively. No associations were found between positive cases and studied variables. From the total of blood samples taken from dogs, 87 (97.6%) were seropositive to T. gondii; only 52 viable fecal samples were collected from dogs of which 46.2% had the presence of gastrointestinal parasites with low to moderate intensity; from those, 12% had the presence of T. canis. This study demonstrates the presence of the studied zoonotic agents in the area particularly T. gondii which suggest a common source of infection in dogs and humans and a high number of oocyts present in the environment. Preventive measures must be designed towards good prophylactic practices in domestic and backyard animals (T. canis and T. spiralis). Contaminated sources with T. gondii (food and water) should be further investigated in order to design effective control measures.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of zoonotic significance in dogs and cats in lower Northern Thailand

“…The larva migrans can also be caused by Toxocara [23] which were also found in feces of dogs and cats examined in this survey. Human can be infected by the ingestion of embryonated eggs that could be present in soil contaminated with dog or cat feces [12].…”

Variations in the Rate of Infestations of Dogs with Zoonotic Nematodes and the Contamination of Soil in Different Environments

“…Similar results were found in The Netherlands and Portugal, where the average T. canis EPG was 889 [ 3 ] and 712.5, respectively [ 13 ]. However, in most other countries the number of eggs in 1 g of feces has reached the level of 100 [ 10 , 27 , 34 ].…”

“…In Africa, the overall prevalence is high (62.6–82.5%), with hookworms dominating (35.3–53.8%), and the prevalence of T. canis and T. vulpis is much lower (3.3–15.8% and 3.7–7.9%, respectively) [ 15 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. In Mexico, the prevalence is similar to that in Africa, with Ancylostomatidae also dominating (70.8%), and with the prevalence of T. canis and T. vulpis being 12.5% and 12.5%, respectively [ 34 ].…”

“…The source of infection of humans is believed to be invasive eggs of Toxocara spp. from the environment [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 16 , 34 , 48 ]. The main cause is T. canis , which is considered a serious zoonosis and may cause ocular larva migrans (OLM) or visceral larva migrans (VLM) or not manifest clinical symptoms at all.…”

“…antibodies were higher in people older than 45 years old (30%) relative to those younger than 30 years old (4–15%) [ 3 ]. In Mexico, however, the serological prevalence of T. canis in humans from a rural community was 29.2% and at a lower level in people under 40 years of age (27.6%) [ 34 ]. In Poland, in the period between 2002 and 2005, for children suspected of being infected with Toxocara spp.…”