Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET-UNLP-asociado a CICPBA), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2020 Jul;21:100424. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100424. Epub 2020 Jun 18.
Wild and domestic dogs are important reservoir hosts of numerous intestinal parasites that represent potential infection sources for both humans and wild or other domestic animals. The aim of this study was to determine the presence, diversity, and contamination potential of intestinal parasites in dog feces contaminating urban and recreational areas in Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina). A total of 80 canine fecal samples were collected from urban (playgrounds, streets, sidewalks, squares and coastal walks) and recreational areas (winter centers for raising and training sled dogs) in 2018. Samples were preserved in 5% formalin and processed using formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation and FLOTAC dual Pellet techniques. Data were analyzed using the R software. At least one parasite species was recovered in 32.5% of the total samples examined. Of the seven parasite species detected, infection by protozoan species was higher than helminth infections (28.8% versus 8.8%). Sarcocystis sp. (20.0%), Giardia sp. (8.8%) and Cystoisospora spp. (7.5%) were the most frequent species, followed by Toxocara canis (5.0%), Echinococcus spp./Taenia spp. (2.5%), Trichuris vulpis and Uncinaria sp. (1.3% for both). Single infections (69.2%) were more frequent than coinfections with two (19.2%) and three parasite species (11.5%). This study provides the first description of the diversity and frequency of intestinal parasite species in dog feces from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The unfavorable environment of Ushuaia, characterized by low temperatures and winter snowfall, is likely to reduce parasite survivability, decreasing contamination potential. Some parasite species found are potentially zoonotic and represent an important risk for the human population and a source of infection to free-roaming pets. The results of this study revealed the need to strengthen the prevention, surveillance and control of these infections in pets, as well as to implement programs for public health education, control measures for the free-roaming canine population, and responsible pet ownership in the study area.
野生和家养犬是许多肠道寄生虫的重要宿主，这些寄生虫对人类以及野生动物或其他家养动物都具有潜在的感染源。本研究旨在确定在乌斯怀亚（阿根廷火地岛省）的城市和娱乐区污染的犬粪便中存在、多样性和污染潜力的肠道寄生虫。2018 年，共采集了 80 份来自城市（游乐场、街道、人行道、广场和沿海步道）和娱乐区（雪橇犬饲养和训练冬季中心）的犬粪便样本。样本用 5%的福尔马林保存，并使用福尔马林-乙酸乙酯沉淀和 FLOTAC 双重颗粒技术进行处理。使用 R 软件对数据进行分析。在所检查的总样本中，至少有一种寄生虫物种的回收率为 32.5%。在所检测到的七种寄生虫中，原虫感染高于蠕虫感染（28.8%比 8.8%）。肉孢子虫属（20.0%）、贾第虫属（8.8%）和等孢球虫属（7.5%）是最常见的物种，其次是犬弓首蛔虫（5.0%）、细粒棘球绦虫/多头绦虫属（2.5%）、毛首线虫和犬钩口线虫（两者均为 1.3%）。单一感染（69.2%）比两种（19.2%）和三种寄生虫感染（11.5%）更为常见。本研究首次描述了世界最南端城市乌斯怀亚犬粪便中肠道寄生虫种类的多样性和频率。乌斯怀亚的不利环境，特点是低温和冬季降雪，可能会降低寄生虫的存活率，降低污染潜力。一些发现的寄生虫物种具有潜在的人畜共患性，对人类群体构成重要的感染风险，并成为自由放养宠物的感染源。本研究结果表明，有必要加强对宠物的这些感染的预防、监测和控制，同时在研究区域实施公共卫生教育、控制自由放养犬只数量和负责任的宠物拥有计划。
