Schurer J M, Phipps K, Okemow C, Beatch H, Jenkins E
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Canine Action Project, Marshall, SK, Canada.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2015 Sep;62(6):445-55. doi: 10.1111/zph.12173. Epub 2014 Nov 28.
Free-roaming dog populations are a global concern for animal and human health including transmission of infectious disease (e.g. rabies, distemper and parasites), dog bite injuries/mortalities, animal welfare and adverse effects on wildlife. In Saskatchewan (SK), Canada, veterinary care is difficult to access in the remote and sparsely inhabited northern half of the province, where the population is predominately Indigenous. Even where veterinary clinics are readily available, there are important barriers such as cost, lack of transportation, unique cultural perspectives on dog husbandry and perceived need for veterinary care. We report the effects of introducing a community action plan designed to improve animal and human health, increase animal health literacy and benefit community well-being in two Indigenous communities where a dog-related child fatality recently occurred. Initial door-to-door dog demographic surveys indicated that most dogs were sexually intact (92% of 382 dogs), and few had ever been vaccinated (6%) or dewormed (6%). Approximately three animal-related injuries requiring medical care were reported in the communities per 1000 persons per year (95% CL: 1.6-6.6), and approximately 86% of 145 environmentally collected dog faecal samples contained parasites, far above levels reported in other urban or rural settings in SK. Following two subsidized spay/neuter clinics and active rehoming of dogs, parasite levels in dog faeces decreased significantly (P < 0.001), and important changes were observed in the dog demographic profile. This project demonstrates the importance of engaging people using familiar, local resources and taking a community specific approach. As well, it highlights the value of integrated, cross-jurisdictional cooperation, utilizing the resources of university researchers, veterinary personnel, public health, environmental health and community-based advocates to work together to solve complex issues in One Health. On-going surveillance on dog bites, parasite levels and dog demographics are needed to measure the long-term sustainability of benefits to dog, human and wildlife health.
自由放养的犬类群体对动物和人类健康构成全球关注的问题，包括传染病（如狂犬病、犬瘟热和寄生虫）的传播、犬咬伤/致死事件、动物福利以及对野生动物的不利影响。在加拿大萨斯喀彻温省（SK），该省北部偏远且人口稀少的地区（主要为原住民）很难获得兽医护理。即使在兽医诊所随处可得的地方，也存在诸如费用、缺乏交通工具、对犬类饲养的独特文化观念以及对兽医护理的认知需求等重要障碍。我们报告了在两个近期发生与犬相关儿童死亡事件的原住民社区引入一项社区行动计划的效果，该计划旨在改善动物和人类健康、提高动物健康素养并促进社区福祉。初步的挨家挨户犬类人口统计调查表明，大多数犬只未绝育（382只犬中的92%），很少有犬只接种过疫苗（6%）或进行过驱虫（6%）。这些社区每年每1000人报告约三起需要医疗护理的与动物相关的伤害事件（95%置信区间：1.6 - 6.6），并且在145份环境采集的犬粪便样本中，约86%含有寄生虫，远高于SK其他城市或农村地区报告的水平。在两次绝育补贴诊所及积极的犬类重新安置行动后，犬粪便中的寄生虫水平显著下降（P < 0.001），并且在犬类人口统计概况方面观察到了重要变化。该项目证明了利用熟悉的当地资源并采取针对社区的方法来让人们参与其中的重要性。此外，它凸显了跨部门综合合作的价值，利用大学研究人员、兽医人员、公共卫生、环境卫生及社区倡导者的资源共同努力解决“同一健康（One Health）”中的复杂问题。需要持续监测犬咬伤、寄生虫水平和犬类人口统计情况，以衡量对犬、人类和野生动物健康益处的长期可持续性。
