ENTERIC PATHOGENS OF DOGS AND CATS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Dogs and cats play an important role in modern soci ety, enhancing the psychological and physiological well-being of many people. However, there are well- documented health risks associated with human animal interactions. More specifically, enteric pat hogens of zoonotic risk which are transmitted by fe ces of dogs and cats can be grouped as follows: (a) Par asites such as Toxocara canis , T. cati , Ancylostoma sp, Uncinaria sp, Strongyloides stercoralis , Echinococcus granulosus , E. multilocularis and Dipylidium caninum (b) Protozoa including Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. (c) Bacteria of the genera Clostridium , Campylobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia, Yersinia and Helicobacter and (d) Viruses mainly Rotaviruses and Coronaviruses . Among them, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Rotaviruses , Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus have been reported to be of considerable importanc e for many countries including Greece. Even though offici al records of the cases in humans and livestock in Greece continuously decline, cystic echinococcosis is considered to be a serious problem for public health and livestock economy. Regarding other paras ites, the overall prevalence of parasitism was 26% in owned shepherd and hunting dogs examined in Serres. Furthermore, seroepidemiological studies revealed the presence of antibodies against T. gondii in a considerable percentage of hospitalized child ren. Rotaviruses were confirmed as a major cause of acute gastroent eritis in children. Finally, bacterial zoonotic enteropathogens were identified in a notab le number of pediatric cases. Most of these zoonose s are associated with the exposure of immunodeficient people or children to pets and/or conditions of po or hygiene. Studies on the presence of all these patho gens in animals are required to identify the extent of problem, to define control strategies and evaluate their effectiveness.