Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog health and disease risks in an indigenous Guyana community
By Milstein, Marissa S et al.·Published in PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2022·Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A mixed-methods approach to understanding domestic dog health and disease transmission risk in an indigenous reserve in Guyana, South America.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of domestic dogs in an indigenous community in Guyana were examined for health issues and potential disease transmission risks to humans. All 20 dogs had ectoparasites like fleas and ticks, and some tested positive for diseases such as Ehrlichia and heartworm. The community actively manages their dogs' health by removing parasites, cleaning up feces, and using both traditional and Western medicine. While the dogs that received regular care showed some health benefits, more research is needed to fully understand how these practices affect disease transmission.
People also search for: dog health issues Guyana · fleas and ticks in dogs · heartworm treatment for dogs · zoonotic diseases in pets · how to care for dogs in indigenous communities
Abstract
Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) can transmit a variety of pathogens due to their ubiquitousness in urban, rural and natural environments, and their close interactions with wildlife and humans. In this study, we used a mixed-methods approach to assess the role of domestic dogs as potential intermediaries of disease transmission from wildlife to humans among indigenous Waiwai in the Konashen Community Owned Conservation Area, Guyana. To address these objectives we 1) performed physical examinations and collected biological samples to assess Waiwai domestic dog health, and 2) administered questionnaires to characterize the role of dogs in the community and identify potential transmission pathways between wildlife, dogs, and humans. We observed ectoparasites on all dogs (n = 20), including: fleas (100%), ticks (15%), botflies (30%), and jigger flea lesions (Tunga penetrans) (80%). Ten percent of dogs were seropositive for Ehrlichia canis/ewingii, 10% were positive for Dirofilaria immitis, and one dog was seropositive for Leishmania infantum. All dogs (n = 20) were seronegative for: canine distemper virus, Brucella canis, Leptospira serovars, Trypanosoma cruzi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys and Borrelia burgdorferi. Our questionnaire data revealed that the Waiwai remove ectoparasites from their dogs, clean up dog feces, and administer traditional and/or Western medicine to their dogs. White blood cell, strongyle-type ova, and eosinophil counts were lower in dogs that were not frequently used for hunting, dogs that did receive traditional and/or western medicine, and dogs that were frequently kept in elevated dog houses, although differences were not statistically significant. While our results suggest that the Waiwai have developed cultural practices that may promote dog health and/or prevent zoonotic disease transmission, more research is necessary to determine the efficacy of these practices. Our study provides important data on the health of dogs and the potential for disease transmission to humans in a zoonotic hotspot.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35687596/