Ash Amanda, Lymbery Alan, Godfrey Stephanie, Shiel Robert, Paul Amanda
School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150 Australia.
School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150 Australia; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth, 6150, Australia.
Vet Parasitol. 2019 Jan;265:7-14. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Dec 7.
The control of parasitic infections is particularly challenging in environments that are conducive to the maintenance of parasite lifecycles, such as the greyhound kennel, where the long-term breeding and rearing of dogs is common. The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites within the Australian greyhound population has never previously been assessed, which seriously constrains the implementation of effective control measures. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for GI parasites in Australian greyhounds, identify parasites which may be detrimental to the health and performance of dogs, and evaluate the likelihood of zoonotic transmission to kennel staff. Faecal samples were collected from 721 individual greyhounds situated in kennels across five states of Australia; Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Animal husbandry and current parasite control protocols were obtained from each kennel and analysed in conjunction with the detected level of parasitism. Overall parasite prevalence was approximately 60%, ranging from 50 to 70% between states. Eleven parasite genera were identified, with Sarcocystis, hookworm, Giardia and Toxocara detected most frequently. Generalised linear mixed model analyses found the major risk factors associated with parasitism were: a) the type of substrate which dogs were housed; b) age of dogs; and c) geographic region. Parasitism was associated most frequently with young dogs housed on grass/sand substrates, which allowed parasite lifecycles to continue, with constant reinfection the likely outcome. Routine treatment with broad-spectrum anthelmintics did not provide effective control in these environments and the adoption of alternate parasite control strategies is recommended. A substantial risk from zoonotic parasites was also identified, with six of the eleven parasite genera detected considered to be zoonotic and a poor understanding of zoonotic transmission among kennel managers.
在有利于寄生虫生命周期维持的环境中，控制寄生虫感染极具挑战性，比如灵缇犬舍，在那里长期饲养和繁育犬类很常见。此前从未评估过澳大利亚灵缇犬群体中胃肠道（GI）寄生虫的流行情况，这严重制约了有效控制措施的实施。本研究的目的是确定澳大利亚灵缇犬胃肠道寄生虫的流行情况和风险因素，识别可能对犬类健康和性能有害的寄生虫，并评估向犬舍工作人员进行人畜共患传播的可能性。从澳大利亚五个州（西澳大利亚州、昆士兰州、新南威尔士州、维多利亚州和塔斯马尼亚州）犬舍中的721只个体灵缇犬采集粪便样本。从每个犬舍获取畜牧管理和当前的寄生虫控制方案，并结合检测到的寄生虫感染水平进行分析。总体寄生虫感染率约为60%，各州之间在50%至70%之间。鉴定出了11个寄生虫属，其中最常检测到的是肉孢子虫、钩虫、贾第虫和弓蛔虫。广义线性混合模型分析发现与寄生虫感染相关的主要风险因素为：a）犬只饲养的垫料类型；b）犬只年龄；c）地理区域。寄生虫感染最常与饲养在草地/沙地垫料上的幼犬相关，这使得寄生虫生命周期得以持续，持续再感染可能是结果。在这些环境中，使用广谱驱虫药进行常规治疗并不能有效控制，建议采用其他寄生虫控制策略。还确定了人畜共患寄生虫带来的重大风险，检测到的11个寄生虫属中有6个被认为是人畜共患的，而且犬舍管理人员对人畜共患传播了解甚少。
