Canine intestinal parasites as a potential source of soil contamination in the public areas of Kruševac, Serbia.

Jelena G Raičević,Tamara A Galonja-Coghill,Ivan N Pavlović

doi:10.3855/jidc.12694

Abstract

Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people. In this research the presence of parasitic elements in canine faeces found in the public areas of Kruševac was examined. During May and October 2018, 282 samples were collected from different public areas (ten kindergartens, six public squares and four parks). The examination of faeces was performed by means of direct smear and flotation. For statistical testing of the difference between the frequencies of attributes χ2 test was applied. Out of 282 samples, 221 (78.4%) were positive, of which 17/20 (85.0%) from kindergartens, 125/160 (78.1%) from parks and 79/102 (77.5%) from public squares. The presence of Ancylostomatidae spp. was discovered in 113 (40.1%) samples, Toxocara canis in 82 (29.1%), Dipylidium caninum in 76 (27.0%), Giardia intestinalis in 45 (16.0%), Taenia spp. in 44 (15.6%), Amoeba spp. in 32 (11.3%), Trichuris vulpis in 19 (6.7%), Toxascaris leonina in 18 (6.4%), Strongyloides stercoralis in 17 (6.0%), Isospora spp. in 7 (2.5%) and Cryptosporidium spp. in 3 (1.1%). In May there were 115/141 (81.6%) positive samples, whereas in October there were 106/141 (72.5%) positive ones. No positive sample with three or four parasites was found in October. This study shows that canine faeces from public areas in Kruševac can be the cause of a significant environmental contamination by eggs of canine intestinal parasites as well as of human infections.

Highlights

Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people
The results of this research indicate that canine faeces from public areas in Kruševac is probably the cause of high environmental contamination with the eggs of canine intestinal parasites
A high prevalence of parasites in canine faeces indicates the presence of stray dogs, a low level of veterinary control of owned dogs, poor legislation and the lack of awareness among the human population concerning the harmfulness of contaminated soil

Summary

Introduction

Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people. Conclusions: This study shows that canine faeces from public areas in Kruševac can be the cause of a significant environmental contamination by eggs of canine intestinal parasites as well as of human infections. A constant increase in the number of dogs is a serious hygienic, epidemiological and ecological problem of the urban areas worldwide In urban areas, these animals defecate on public and green areas which they closely share with people. Cysts and oocysts are scattered in the surface soil layer by means of infected canine faeces, which causes the contamination of these areas [1,2,3]. The connection between human toxocariasis and the contamination of public parks with the eggs of Toxocara canis from infected canine faeces is of special epidemiological significance and is present worldwide [7,8,9,10]. Being infected with the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum is possible, but exclusively by means of transitional hosts – fleas [19,20]

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