National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
Prev Vet Med. 2021 Jul;192:105385. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105385. Epub 2021 May 17.
Dog feces may contain zoonotic parasites that contaminate the environment and serve as a potential source of infection to animals and humans. In this study, microscopic and molecular analyses were used to estimate the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and assess the risk factors for infection in 948 dogs in three climatically distinct zones of Nigeria. Zoonotic helminths including Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma braziliense, A. caninum and Toxocara canis were detected either as single or multiple infections in 377 (39.8 %) of dogs examined. At multiple logistic regression analyses, association was found between GI parasite infection and deworming practices and dog management. Regarding A. braziliense, A. caninum and T. canis infections, intensity of egg shedding was statistically associated with the age of the dogs and not with their sex or breed. The majority of GI parasite-positive dogs did not receive regular deworming treatment (59 %) and roamed freely (56 %) thereby constituting public health risk. This is the first nationwide survey and analyses of risk factors of GI parasites of dogs using molecular methods as confirmation of their identity. The zoonotic potential of these parasites is exacerbated by the lack of both operational national policies to control the population of free-roaming dogs and to promote responsible dog ownership, and veterinary public health programs for dogs.
狗的粪便可能含有能污染环境的人畜共患寄生虫，成为动物和人类感染的潜在来源。本研究采用显微镜和分子分析方法，对尼日利亚三个气候不同地区的 948 只狗进行了胃肠道寄生虫的流行率和感染强度调查，并评估了感染的危险因素。在检查的 377 只（39.8%）狗中，检测到了单一或多种感染的包括类粪圆线虫、巴西钩口线虫、犬钩口线虫和犬蛔虫等的寄生性蠕虫。在多因素逻辑回归分析中，发现胃肠道寄生虫感染与驱虫实践和犬管理有关。关于巴西钩口线虫、犬钩口线虫和犬蛔虫感染，卵排出的强度与狗的年龄有关，而与性别或品种无关。大多数胃肠道寄生虫阳性的狗没有接受常规驱虫治疗（59%），也没有自由活动（56%），因此构成了公共卫生风险。这是首次使用分子方法对狗的胃肠道寄生虫进行全国性调查和危险因素分析，以确认其身份。由于缺乏控制流浪犬数量和促进负责任的犬只饲养的国家政策，以及犬类兽医公共卫生计划，这些寄生虫的人畜共患潜力更加严重。
