Indicator Enteric Microbes Associated with Selected Domesticated Pets in Mvita Sub-County, Mombasa County- Kenya

Abstract

Domesticated pets provide various benefits to humans, at the same time, human animal interactions can pose health risks such as zoonosis which are associated with microbial mutations and dreadful epidemics. The purpose of this study was to establish health risks associated with exposure to domestic dogs and cats’ faeces where faecal specimen were collected and enteric microorganisms identified using standard microbiological techniques. Rotavirus was the most prevalent enteric virus at 28.1% with 20.7% and 7.4% prevalence among cats and dogs respectively (RR 2.811). The prevalence of adenovirus was 4.2% with a distribution of 2.9% and 1.3% in dogs and cats respectively (RR=1.02). The prevalence of intestinal helminths was 20.3% with hookworms reporting the highest prevalence of 16.1% (RR=1.09). Coagulase negative staphylococci was isolated among 18.8% of the animals, pathogenic E. coli was isolated among 1% of the animals and streptococcus species were isolated from 8.5% of the animals (RR=1.0). The study findings indicate potential health risks posed by close association of domesticated cats and dogs as reflected by RR ≥1.00. It is envisaged that the study findings will guide the development of a policy framework to manage and control zoonotic diseases associated with animal faeces