Abstract
A sizable population of stray dogs are wandering in the premises of the University of Peradeniya and they ramble and defecate inside the faculty buildings and student hostels. This may pose a public health risk due to wide range of zoonotic parasites strays might harbour. Here we carried out a cross-sectional, coprological survey to assess the canine helminthiasis in the Peradeniya university premises. Fresh feacal samples were collected from March to June 2018 and were analyzed using a modified Sheather’s sucrose flotation technique. Sixty dogs were sampled, of which 76.6% was infected with one or more enteric helminths with a higher prevalence in stray dogs (88.6%) than owned dogs (60.0%). Seven helminth genera were recorded: Toxocara (26.7%), Spirocerca (26.7%), Strongyloides (10.0%), Trichuris (5.0%), Dipylidium (3.3%), Capillaria (3.3%) and Ancylostoma (73.3%). All seven genera were recorded in the stray dogs while Trichuris was not recorded in the owned dogs. Ancylostoma was the most prevalent infection with the highest intensity (103.4 ±198.4 Eggs per gram: EPG). There was no difference in the prevalence of Ancylostoma infections between strays (60.0%) and owned dogs (46.7%) but the intensity of infection was higher in owned dogs (155.2 EPG); range 2 - 755 EPG) than strays (71.6 EPG; range of 1 – 546 EPG), irrespective of de-worming. It could be due to development of antihelminthic resistance as routine use likely to accelerate the development of resistance in canine helminths. Except for Capillaria, other six helminths recorded were zoonotic, with a potential of humans acquiring the infections when there is close contact with dogs. Stray dogs may act as reservoirs of these infections for owned dogs and humans and vise versa. In order to control the zoonotic infections, the stray dog population in and around faculties and residential halls, has to be controlled implementing strict rules on feeding strays inside the university premises.
Highlights
Dogs have been a human companion for millennia and their significant impact on human life renders the risk for transmission of zoonotic pathogens (Schantz, 1994)
Especially the strays, are competent reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens. Canine helminths such as Toxocara canis, Capillaria, Uncinaria, Strongyloides stercoralis and Spirocera lupi transmitted through soil contaminated eggs and larvae have a significant impact on both animals and humans (Surgan,1980; Traub et al, 2002; Traversa et al, 2014; Zanzani et al, 2014)
All helminth genera had a higher intensity of infection (EPG) in stray dogs compared to that of owned dogs, except for Ancylostoma (Table 2)
Summary
Dogs have been a human companion for millennia and their significant impact on human life renders the risk for transmission of zoonotic pathogens (Schantz, 1994). Especially the strays, are competent reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens Canine helminths such as Toxocara canis, Capillaria, Uncinaria, Strongyloides stercoralis and Spirocera lupi transmitted through soil contaminated eggs and larvae have a significant impact on both animals and humans (Surgan,1980; Traub et al, 2002; Traversa et al, 2014; Zanzani et al, 2014). In 2006, with the lobbing of animal activists, a presidential order was passed to implement a “no-kill policy” for the canine strays in Sri Lanka involving “catch-neuter-vaccinaterelease” method (CNVR) This is a more humane approach and has significantly reduced the number of rabies cases over the years. We investigated helminths harboured by the stray and owned dogs in the premises of the University of Peradeniya to assess their potential as sentinels of parasites of humans
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