Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies.
School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies.
Parasitology. 2023 Jul;150(8):754-759. doi: 10.1017/S0031182023000495. Epub 2023 May 15.
Canine soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) cause important zoonoses in the tropics, with varying degrees of intensity of infection in humans and dogs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for STHs in community dogs residing in Grenada, West Indies. In May 2021, 232 canine fecal samples were examined for zoonotic helminths by microscopy (following flotation), and genomic DNA from a subset of 211 of these samples were subjected to multiplex qPCR for the detection and specific identification of hookworms, spp. and . Microscopic examination revealed that 46.5% (108/232, 95% CI 40–52.9), 9% (21/232, 95% CI 5.35–12.7) and 5.2% (12/232, 95% CI 2.3–8) of the samples contained eggs of spp., spp. and , respectively. Multiplex qPCR revealed that, 42.2% (89/211, 95% CI 35.5–48.8) were positive for at least 1 zoonotic parasite. Of these, 40.8% (86/211, 95% CI 34.1–47.3) of samples tested positive for spp., 36% (76/211, 95% CI 29.5–42.9) were positive for 13.3% (28/211, 95% CI 9–18.6) for , 5.7% for (12/211, 95% CI 2.97–8.81) and 1% (2/211, 95% CI 0–2.26) for spp. (identified as and by conventional PCR-based Sanger sequencing). Using a multiple logistic regression model, a low body score and free-roaming behaviour were significant predictors of test-positivity for these parasitic nematodes in dogs ( < 0.05). Further studies of zoonotic STHs in humans should help elucidate the public health relevance of these parasites in Grenada.
犬类土壤传播的蠕虫（STHs）在热带地区引起重要的人畜共患病，人类和犬类的感染程度各不相同。本研究旨在调查居住在西印度群岛格林纳达的社区犬中 STHs 的流行率和相关危险因素。2021 年 5 月，对 232 份犬粪便样本进行了显微镜检查（浮选后），对其中 211 份样本的基因组 DNA 进行了多重 qPCR 检测，以检测和特异性鉴定钩虫、 和 。显微镜检查显示，46.5%（108/232，95%CI 40-52.9）、9%（21/232，95%CI 5.35-12.7）和 5.2%（12/232，95%CI 2.3-8）的样本中分别含有 spp.、 spp. 和 的卵。多重 qPCR 显示，42.2%（89/211，95%CI 35.5-48.8）的样本至少对 1 种人畜共患寄生虫呈阳性。其中，40.8%（86/211，95%CI 34.1-47.3）的样本检测出 spp.阳性，36%（76/211，95%CI 29.5-42.9）的样本检测出 13.3%（28/211，95%CI 9-18.6）的 阳性，5.7%（12/211，95%CI 2.97-8.81）的 阳性和 1%（2/211，95%CI 0-2.26）的 阳性。（通过基于常规 PCR 的 Sanger 测序鉴定为 和 ）。使用多因素逻辑回归模型，犬体况评分低和自由放养行为是这些寄生虫检测阳性的显著预测因素（<0.05）。进一步研究人类的人畜共患 STHs 有助于阐明这些寄生虫在格林纳达的公共卫生相关性。
