Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Post-Graduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Bairro Salobrinho, IIhéus, Bahia, CEP 45662-900, Brazil.
Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Prof. Costa Mendes 1608, 5. andar, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-140, Brazil.
Parasitol Res. 2019 Jun;118(6):1711-1718. doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06314-w. Epub 2019 Apr 11.
Tungiasis is a zoonosis neglected by authorities, health professionals, and affected populations. Domestic, synanthropic, and sylvatic animals serve as reservoirs for human infestation, and dogs are usually considered a main reservoir in endemic communities. To describe the seasonal variation and the persistence of tungiasis in dogs, we performed quarterly surveys during a period of 2 years in a tourist village in the municipality of Ilhéus, Bahia State, known to be endemic for tungiasis. Prevalence in dogs ranged from 62.1% (43/66) in August 2013 to 82.2% (37/45) in November 2014, with no significant difference (p = 0.06). The prevalence of infestation remained high, regardless of rainfall patterns. Of the 31 dogs inspected at all surveys, period prevalence was 94% (29/31; 95% CI 79.3-98.2%) and persistence of infestation indicator [PII] was high (median PII = 6 surveys, q1 = 5, q3 = 7). Dogs < 1 year of age had a higher mean prevalence of 84.5%, as compared with 69.3% in the older dogs. No significant difference was found between the risk of infestation and age or sex (p = 0.61). Our data indicate that canine tungiasis persisted in the area during all periods of the year. The seasonal variation described in human studies from other endemic areas was not observed, most probably due to different rainfall patterns throughout the year. The study has important implications for the planning of integrated control measures in both humans and animal reservoirs, considering a One Health approach.
人体寄生圆线虫病是一种被当局、卫生专业人员和受影响人群忽视的动物源性传染病。家栖、半家栖和森林动物是人类感染的宿主，而狗通常被认为是流行地区的主要宿主。为了描述狗体寄生圆线虫病的季节性变化和持续存在，我们在巴伊亚州伊列乌斯市的一个旅游村庄进行了为期 2 年的季度调查，该村庄已知是寄生圆线虫病的流行地区。狗体的患病率从 2013 年 8 月的 62.1%（43/66）到 2014 年 11 月的 82.2%（37/45）不等，差异无统计学意义（p=0.06）。无论降雨量模式如何，感染的患病率都保持在较高水平。在所有调查中检查的 31 只狗中，期间患病率为 94%（29/31；95%CI 79.3-98.2%），感染指标[PII]的持久性较高（中位数 PII=6 次调查，q1=5，q3=7）。年龄<1 岁的狗的平均患病率较高，为 84.5%，而年龄较大的狗的平均患病率为 69.3%。感染的风险与年龄或性别之间无显著差异（p=0.61）。我们的数据表明，狗体寄生圆线虫病在全年的所有时期都在该地区持续存在。在其他流行地区的人类研究中描述的季节性变化没有观察到，这很可能是由于全年不同的降雨模式所致。这项研究对于在人类和动物宿主中规划综合控制措施具有重要意义，考虑到一种“同一健康”方法。
