ECHINOCOCCOSIS AND OTHER PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN DOMESTIC DOGS FROM URBAN AREAS OF AN ARGENTINEAN PATAGONIAN CITY

FLORES V.; VIOZZI G.; GARIBOTTI G.; ZACHARIAS D.; DEBIAGGI F.; KABARADJIAN, S.

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2017 vol. 77 p. 469 - 474

0025-7680

In urban populations of South America, dogs with free access to public areas represent a publichealth concern. The primary consequence of roaming dogs on human health is the transmission ofinfectious and parasitic diseases mainly through feces contamination. The main diseases likely to be transmittedare hydatidosis or echinococcosis, larva migrans, and giardiasis. In Argentina, hydatidosis ranks among the mostprevalent zoonosis. Although it is considered a rural disease, the circulation of this parasite in urban areas hasbeen documented. The aim of this work was to survey intestinal parasites in canine feces from two low-incomeurban neighborhoods of Bariloche city, Argentina, and to assess their seasonal variation. During 2016, 188 freshdog feces were collected from sidewalks in 40 randomly selected blocks from the neighborhoods. Each samplewas processed by Sheater flotation and tested for a coproantigen (CAg) by ELISA. The percentage of parasitizedfeces was 65.3% (95% CI: 55.9%-73.8%). Eleven parasite species were found, 3 protozoan, 3 cestodes, and 5nematodes. Echinococcus sp. was present in 9.3% of the samples (95% CI: 4.7%-16.1%). Canine echinococcosisrates resulted similar to rates found previously in other neighborhoods of the city. The life cycle of Echinococcussp. is sustained in urban areas by the entry of parasitized livestock, domiciliary slaughtering, and inadequatedeposition of offal. The risk of Echinococcus sp. transmission to people in these neighborhoods is very high, dueto high density of free-roaming dogs and high percentages of infected feces, similar to percentages observed inrural areas.