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Tylkowska A, Mocha N, Kołnierzak MM, Szenejko M. Risk Factors Associated with Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Dog Feces That Contaminate Public Areas of Warsaw, Poland. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:450. [PMID: 38338093 PMCID: PMC10854816 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A constant increase in dog numbers, especially in large towns, has been observed recently. The presence of dogs in urban spaces increases the risk of pollution by dogs' feces, which may contain growth forms of parasites including canine, soil-transmitted helminths (cSTHs), most of which have a proven zoonotic potential. This study assessed the frequency of occurrence and estimated the potential risk associated with the presence of cSTHs in dogs' feces left uncollected in urban areas. The study material consisted of 200 fecal samples obtained from city and dog parks situated in selected Warsaw districts. Each fecal sample was processed using the flotation technique. Eggs of cSTHs, including Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris vulpis, and hookworms from the Ancylostomatidae family were found in 23 (11.5%) of the examined fecal samples. The most prevalent species were hookworms from the family Ancylostomatidae (8%). The presence of parasites was confirmed in 14 out of 20 studied locations (70%), including eight city parks (72.7%) and six dog parks (66.7%). City and dog parks did not differ significantly in the frequency of parasite occurrence. This study indicated that dogs' feces, left uncollected, may cause environmental contamination with cSTHs. It also indicated that the presence of dogs' feces in public areas and the associated presence of parasites is still a problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Tylkowska
- Department of Biology of Animal Environment, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.T.)
| | - Natalia Mocha
- Department of Biology of Animal Environment, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.T.)
| | - Marta Małgorzata Kołnierzak
- Department of Biology of Animal Environment, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.T.)
| | - Magdalena Szenejko
- Department of Environmental Ecology, Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland;
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Owada K, Abdullah S, Clark N, Nguyen T, Soares Magalhães RJ. Associations between canine hookworm infection and dog owners' awareness, perception, and behaviour: A cross-sectional study in Brisbane, Queensland, 2019-2020. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:498-510. [PMID: 37248661 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Canine hookworms are found globally, and infections have been recorded in domestic dogs visiting dog parks in Queensland, Australia. Some canine hookworms also present a risk of zoonotic transmission to humans. Potential transmission of hookworms can occur in the household and at public places because of lack of owner awareness and poor coverage of canine deworming. Between April 2019 and March 2020, faecal samples from owned dogs were collected from 39 dog parks in metropolitan Brisbane, Queensland, and tested for the presence of hookworm eggs using faecal floatation technique. Dog owners who provided samples were requested to complete a survey on their awareness, perceptions and behaviour regarding the risks and consequences of canine parasitic infection. Associations between dog owner demographics and responses to the survey were measured using Goodman and Kruskal's gamma. Statistical associations between canine hookworm infection in dogs and their owner's responses were quantified using a two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A total of five canine faecal samples from 175 respondents were found positive for hookworm eggs, corresponding to a sample- and park-level prevalence of 2.86% and 12.82%, respectively. Female dog owners were found to be more aware of the importance of regular deworming of their dogs (|γ| = 0.405). Our results indicate that hookworm infection was associated with a lower awareness of the importance of deworming (p = 0.007), less diligence in administration of deworming (p = 0.004), lower awareness of the risk of acquiring parasites from raw meat (p = 0.010), less likelihood of cooking meat before feeding it to their dogs (p = 0.028), and less likelihood to properly dispose their dog's faeces (p = 0.027). This study not only indicates a need for improving owner education towards the importance of deworming but also a need for changing owner's behaviours to reduce potential environmental contamination with infective hookworms. The latter in particular indicates a broader public health risk of disease transmission in public places due to improper disposal of dog faeces, especially in areas with higher canine hookworm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Owada
- Queensland Alliance for One Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Swaid Abdullah
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas Clark
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tu Nguyen
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ricardo J Soares Magalhães
- Queensland Alliance for One Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Children's Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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3
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Raw C, Traub RJ, Zendejas-Heredia PA, Stevenson M, Wiethoelter A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of human and zoonotic dog soil-transmitted helminth infections in Australian Indigenous communities. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010895. [PMID: 36279298 PMCID: PMC9632820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infect 1.5 billion people and countless animals worldwide. In Australian Indigenous communities, STH infections have largely remained endemic despite control efforts, suggesting reservoirs of infection may exist. Dogs fulfil various important cultural, social and occupational roles in Australian Indigenous communities and are populous in these settings. Dogs may also harbour zoonotic STHs capable of producing morbidity and mortality in dogs and humans. This review provides an overview of human and zoonotic STH infections, identifies the Australian Indigenous locations affected and the parasite species and hosts involved. The meta-analysis provides estimates of individual study and pooled true prevalence of STH infections in Australian Indigenous communities and identifies knowledge gaps for further research on zoonotic or anthroponotic potential. A systematic literature search identified 45 eligible studies documenting the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, undifferentiated hookworm, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Of these studies, 26 were also eligible for inclusion in meta-analysis to establish true prevalence in the light of imperfect diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity by Rogan-Gladen and Bayesian methods. These studies revealed pooled true prevalence estimates of 18.9% (95% CI 15.8–22.1) for human and canine S. stercoralis infections and 77.3% (95% CI 63.7–91.0) for canine A. caninum infections indicating continued endemicity, but considerably more heterogenous pooled estimates for canine A. ceylanicum infections, and A. duodenale, undifferentiated hookworm and T. trichiura in humans. This review suggests that the prevalence of STHs in Australian Indigenous communities has likely been underestimated, principally based on imperfect diagnostic tests. Potential misclassification of hookworm species in humans and dogs due to outdated methodology, also obscures this picture. High-quality contemporary studies are required to establish current true prevalence of parasite species in all relevant hosts to guide future policy development and control decisions under a culturally sound One Health framework. Soil-transmitted helminths include hookworms, threadworms, whipworms and roundworms. These worms may infect different hosts including humans and dogs, and some species are zoonotic, meaning that they are able to transmit between animals and humans. In many Australian Indigenous communities, people remain infected with these worms at high rates compared to other parts of the country despite various control strategies. Resource and health literacy inequalities are primary drivers for these differences. However, the potential for dogs to act as reservoirs for zoonotic worm infections in humans must also be considered. For this reason, it’s important to create a clear picture of the level of infection by location and host. Given that tests used to establish prevalence can produce false positive or negative results, we performed a meta-analysis allowing comparison of true prevalence estimates by location and host, regardless of the test used. This review suggests that threadworm and dog hookworm remain endemic in Australian Indigenous communities, though a gap exists to accurately inform the prevalence of the other worms. It also highlights the need for One Health strategies in research, policy and control where humans, all animal hosts and the environment are considered in a culturally relevant way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Raw
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Rebecca J. Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Patsy A. Zendejas-Heredia
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark Stevenson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Harriott L, Amos M, Brennan M, Elsworth P, Gentle M, Kennedy M, Pople T, Scanlan J, Speed J, Osunkoya OO. State‐wide prioritisation of vertebrate pest animals in Queensland, Australia. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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Massetti L, Wiethoelter A, McDonagh P, Rae L, Marwedel L, Beugnet F, Colella V, Traub RJ. Faecal prevalence, distribution and risk factors associated with canine soil-transmitted helminths contaminating urban parks across Australia. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:637-646. [PMID: 36007621 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Dog parks provide an ideal urban space where dogs and their owners can exercise, play, and socialize in a safe environment. However, these parks can also increase the risk of exposure to a series of infectious agents including canine soil-transmitted helminths (cSTHs) such as hookworms, roundworms, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Trichuris vulpis, which are endemic to Australia. In this study, we collected 1581 canine faecal samples in 190 urban parks across Australia and subjected these to faecal floatation and multiplex real-time PCRs (qPCR) to detect a range of cSTHs. In total, 44.2% of the parks sampled were contaminated with at least one species of cSTH, with hookworms being the most prevalent parasites (10.2%) followed by Trichuris spp. (1.3%) and Strongyloides spp. (1.2%). This is the first large-scale study investigating the contamination of urban parks with cSTHs in Australia, and the first nation-wide study to demonstrate the occurrence of Strongyloides spp. in canine faecal samples from urban areas in the country. This study reveals a high rate of contamination with cSTHs in dog parks in urban Australia, most of which having proven zoonotic potential. Preventive measures, including awareness-raising educational programs promoting responsible pet ownership, should be encouraged to minimise the health risks associated with cSTHs for both dogs and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massetti
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia.
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Phillip McDonagh
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Louise Rae
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Lara Marwedel
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | | | - Vito Colella
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
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6
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Harriott L, Allen BL, Gentle M. The effect of device density on encounters by a mobile urban carnivore: Implications for managing peri-urban wild dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Nguyen T, Clark N, Jones MK, Herndon A, Mallyon J, Soares Magalhaes RJ, Abdullah S. Perceptions of dog owners towards canine gastrointestinal parasitism and associated human health risk in Southeast Queensland. One Health 2021; 12:100226. [PMID: 33665329 PMCID: PMC7903457 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine companion animals can carry a number of zoonotic parasites which can adversely impact both human and animal health. Previous studies in Australia indicated that while parasitic infections in dogs are still common and there is variability in the awareness and perception of zoonotic risks among pet owners, the likely contribution of sociodemographic factors to the variation in awareness and perception needs to be further explored. The primary objective of this study is to quantify the relationship between dog owners' knowledge and beliefs about dog parasites and their sociodemographic characteristics. In this study, we surveyed a total of 281 dog owners in SE Queensland between April 2019 to March 2020 and the relationship between dog owners' perception of gastrointestinal parasite infection was assessed using an adaptation of the Health Belief Model, social cognitive framework for health protection. The model looked into the role of dog owners' demography on their perceived severity and susceptibility to zoonotic canine parasites and their likelihood of performing actions associated with worm control of their pets. Our results indicate that owners perceptions about parasitic disease severity in their pets was 26% higher in female dog owners compared to males, in respondents owning dogs over 10 years (27% higher than those owning a dog <3 years) and those owners that regularly deworm their pets and report faeces disposal. Our study indicates that the perceptions of pet owners towards zoonotic canine parasites varies demographically and owner education is important to prevent infection among dogs and control the zoonotic transmission to owners and the community. Finally, there was evidence that increased frequency of visits to veterinary clinics can increase the likelihood of owners performing worm treatment, proper faecal disposal, and cooking meat before feeding it to dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas Clark
- The University of Queensland UQ, School of Veterinary Science, Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, Children Health and Environment Program, South Brisbane 4101, Queensland, Australia
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aaron Herndon
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia
| | - John Mallyon
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ricardo J Soares Magalhaes
- The University of Queensland UQ, School of Veterinary Science, Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, Children Health and Environment Program, South Brisbane 4101, Queensland, Australia
| | - Swaid Abdullah
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Parasitology & Ecology, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia
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8
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Fancourt BA, Augusteyn J, Cremasco P, Nolan B, Richards S, Speed J, Wilson C, Gentle MN. Measuring, evaluating and improving the effectiveness of invasive predator control programs: Feral cat baiting as a case study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 280:111691. [PMID: 33272660 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the impacts of invasive predators is a key objective for conservation managers, livestock producers and human health agencies globally. The efficacy of invasive predator control programs, however, is highly variable. To improve control efficacy, managers require a fundamental understanding of the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a control program. Using a predator baiting program as a case study, we measured the efficacy of baiting as a control tool to significantly reduce feral cat (Felis catus) populations. We used camera traps and cat-borne GPS collars to monitor changes in feral cat populations at a baited site and an unbaited site, using a Before-After, Control-Impact (BACI) design. We also identified five key elements required for a successful baiting program (bait encounter rate, availability, attractiveness, palatability and lethality) and simultaneously measured these to identify areas for potential improvement. Baiting was ineffective at reducing feral cat populations; collared cat mortality was only 11% (1/9), with camera traps revealing negligible reductions in the number of cat detection events (9%), naïve occupancy (15%), and no significant change in the relative abundance of feral cats (F1,54 = 0.8641, P = 0.357). Several factors contributed to the poor control efficacy. Bait encounter rates were low, with cats active along tracks (where baits were laid) < 4% of the time. Cats encountered only 14% (7/50) of monitored baits, but none were eaten. Initially, baits appeared attractive to cats; however meat ants and desiccation rapidly decreased bait palatability. Bait availability to cats declined rapidly, with 36% of monitored baits (18/50) removed by non-target species within the first 48 h. The mortality of one collared cat and chemical assays confirmed that, on average, each bait contained sufficient 1080 to kill a large (>5 kg) feral cat. Our findings suggest that altering bait deployment patterns, increasing bait densities and improving bait palatability could potentially improve the efficacy of baiting programs to reduce feral cat populations. Our study provides a framework to measure and evaluate the key elements that contribute to efficacy of pest control programs, and to identify opportunities for improving outcomes of future control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn A Fancourt
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia; School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia; Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
| | - John Augusteyn
- Ecological Assessment Unit, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, Department of Environment and Science, Rockhampton, Queensland, 4701, Australia
| | - Peter Cremasco
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Barry Nolan
- Technical Support Pest Management, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, Department of Environment and Science, 4802, Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samuel Richards
- Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, Department of Environment and Science, Rockhampton, Queensland, 4701, Australia
| | - James Speed
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Cameron Wilson
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Matthew N Gentle
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
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9
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Massetti L, Colella V, Zendejas PA, Ng-Nguyen D, Harriott L, Marwedel L, Wiethoelter A, Traub RJ. High-throughput multiplex qPCRs for the surveillance of zoonotic species of canine hookworms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008392. [PMID: 32542036 PMCID: PMC7316352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The canine hookworms Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala are not only capable of producing morbidity and mortality in dogs but are also neglected tropical zoonoses. Each hookworm species differs considerably in its geographical distribution, life cycle, biology, pathogenic impacts on both canine and human hosts, zoonotic potential, and response to treatment with anthelminthics. Here we describe the development and validation of two Taq-Man based multiplex PCR assays capable of detecting and differentiating all four canine hookworm species in faeces of naturally infected dogs. The analytical sensitivity of both assays was assessed using 10-fold serial dilutions of synthetic gene block fragments containing individual sequence targets of each hookworm species. The sensitivity of the assays and ability to detect mixed species infections were compared to a conventional PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism based-approach when applied to laboratory and field samples from endemic areas. The qPCRs detected at least one species of hookworms in 82.4% of PCR-RFLP-negative but microscopy-positive samples. The qPCRs detected an additional 68% mixed infections with different species of canine hookworms, and additional single species infection with A. caninum (47%), U. stenocephala (33%) and A. ceylanicum (0.02%) that were missed by PCR-RFLP. These multiplex qPCR assays will assist field based epidemiological surveillance studies towards an accurate and sensitive monitoring of canine hookworm infections in dogs, to inform their species-specific zoonotic risks to populations living in endemic areas, globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massetti
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Vito Colella
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Patsy A Zendejas
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Dinh Ng-Nguyen
- Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Tay Nguyen University, Dak Lak, Vietnam
| | - Lana Harriott
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
| | - Lara Marwedel
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Harriott L, Gentle M, Traub R, Cobbold R, Soares Magalhães R. Geographical distribution and risk factors for Echinococcus granulosus infection in peri-urban wild dog populations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:149-155. [PMID: 31528538 PMCID: PMC6737342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of zoonotic pathogens associated with wildlife in peri-urban environments can be influenced by the interplay of numerous socioecological factors. Echinococcus granulosus is known to be common within peri-urban wild dog populations however knowledge of the factors that influence its presence is limited. We investigated the demographic distribution of adult cestode abundance (ACA: defined as the product between prevalence of infection and adult cestode infection intensity) and the role of the physical environment, climate and individual factors in determining the geographical variation of E. granulosus infection in wild dog populations from southeast Queensland and surrounds. Our results align with previous studies that show significant E. granulosus aggregation in that 15.8% of peri-urban wild dogs sampled were responsible for ∼70% of the total adult cestode infection intensity. On average, female dogs were found to have a higher ACA than male dogs, and the average ACA generally decreased with age. Significant geographical variation was found in the prevalence of E. granulosus, with a strong propensity for clustering. The average size of clusters was 22.5 km. The probability of finding E. granulosus infection significantly increased with maximum temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, and after accounting for individual and climatic variables, the model accounted for the majority of the spatial dependence in prevalence. Our predictive map of E. granulosus prevalence in peri-urban wild dogs confirms that E. granulosus is highly endemic in the eastern Australia study area. The prediction map provides a useful tool for targeting potential disease management strategies in peri-urban areas, where broad scale management of wild dog populations is difficult to implement. E. granulosus is common in peri-urban wild dog populations. E. granulosus worm burdens in peri-urban wild dogs are highly aggregated. Bitches and pups have higher adult cestode infection intensity than males and older animals. High endemic regions of E. granulosus are present within human developed environs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Harriott
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.,Pest Animal Research Centre, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia
| | - Matthew Gentle
- Pest Animal Research Centre, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia
| | - Rebecca Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Rowland Cobbold
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Ricardo Soares Magalhães
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
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