Changes in microflora at high concentrations of pets in urban environments: assessment of risk to the environment and human health

Abstract

Microbiological studies on soil samples from gardens for walking people and pets in two large neighbourhoods of the city of Sofia were carried out. The quantities of microorganisms from main groups, including pathogenic species, were determined with a view to evaluating the epizootological safety of these areas. Especially high were the values of the isolated Gram-negative bacteria (4.33x104 ±1.88 and 2.70x105 ±2.54), of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.75x104 ±3.03 and 3.00x104 ±4.58), of staphylococci, including pathogenic mannitol-positive species (3.48x106 ±2.99 and 4.95 x106 ±3.96), as well as of the fungi. Oval fungi (5.50x104 ±3.77 and 1.55x105 ±1.12) and the causative agents of dermatomycosis tinea or ringworm (2.75x104 ±1.92 and 7.60x104 ±3.72) were present in significant quantities. However, the important sanitary indicative bacteria E. coli and C. perfringens were below the detectable minimum. It was found that in the area with greater movement of people and animals, the amounts of microorganisms from all the studied groups were higher. The results obtained show that urban areas with high traffic from pets and their owners can be a source of infection for animals and humans.