A wide diversity of zoonotic intestinal parasites infects urban and rural dogs in Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

The presence of parasites was investigated by the examination of 1944 dog faecal samples collected from urban (n = 646) and rural (n = 1298) areas of the province of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Parasitic agents (PA) were found in 37.86% of samples. A total of 15 different PA were detected, including Toxocara canis (16.35%), Taenia spp./Echinococcus spp. (12.65%), Trichuris vulpis (6.06%), Giardia spp. (1.29%), Toxascaris leonina (0.56%), Ancylostoma caninum (0.41%), Dipylidium caninum (0.31%), Diphyllobothrium spp. (0.10%), among others. Several of these PA are recognized as zoonotic agents. Therefore, the results of this investigation revealed that local population is exposed to a broad spectrum of zoonotic parasites by means of environmental contamination with dog faeces. Prevalence of PA was slightly higher in rural (40.06%) than in urban (33.44%) locations. Distribution of groups of PA (cestodes, nematodes, and protozoa) showed statistical differences between both habitats. Prevalence of cestodes (18.18%) and protozoa (11.86%) was significantly higher in the rural environment than in urban areas and nematodes (29.10%) were more frequent in urban locations. Infection of dogs with Linguatula serrata and Cryptosporidium sp. was demonstrated for the first time in Neuquén. Rural dogs of the study area are under hydatic disease control program, which includes treatment with praziquantel every 6 weeks; thus, the finding of high level of cestode infection in these areas is of great relevance. The epidemiology of zoonotic parasitic infections in urban and rural dogs showed different patterns and, in consequence, different control measurements should be applied in each location.

Introduction

Several studies performed throughout the world have demonstrated that dogs can play an important role in the transmission of zoonotic parasites. Dogs are definitive hosts for several helminths and protozoan with zoonotic potential like Taenia spp./Echinococcus spp., Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, Ancylostoma spp., Giardia spp., or Cryptosporidium sp. Contamination of urban public areas (parks, squares, and streets) with dog faeces harbouring infective parasitic forms is frequent in many countries representing a high risk of infection for the people living in those areas and therefore constituting a serious public health problem. In rural areas, close contact between dogs and humans is part of natural living conditions especially in regions where livestock raising is of economic importance (Pierangeli et al., 2007). In consequence, rural populations are also at risk of acquiring zoonotic diseases transmitted by dogs.

Understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic parasitic infections is important to minimize the risks to humans (Dubná et al., 2007). Since there are no published data about the epidemiology of parasites present in canine faeces in the province of Neuquén, Argentine Patagonia, the aims of the present work were to determine the presence of PA in faeces of urban (owned and stray) and rural dogs; to compare the epidemiology of both populations and to assess potential risk for human infection with dog transmitted parasites.