Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pet owner awareness of parasite risks in Cairo Egypt
By Taha, Noha Madbouly et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2024·Department of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Awareness of parasitic zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Cairo, Egypt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Many pet owners in Cairo, especially those with cats, are not fully aware of the risks posed by parasites that can be passed from pets to humans. A survey of 246 pet owners found that only a small number regularly took their pets to the vet or dewormed them, which can help prevent these zoonotic diseases. While some owners had heard of zoonoses (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans), many did not take necessary precautions, such as limiting their pets' interactions with other animals. Increasing awareness about regular vet visits and parasite prevention is crucial for keeping both pets and their owners healthy.
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Abstract
Egyptians are becoming more interested in owning and raising pets; however, most of them lack essential awareness about the risk of zoonotic parasites that could be transmitted. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the degree of awareness Egyptian pet owners possess concerning zoonotic parasitic diseases, the risk of transmission, and preventative measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an e-survey. Among 246 pet owners, 64.2% (158) were females, and 67.9% (167) belonged to the 20-30 age group. The majority, 78.9% (194), were raising cats. Only 13.8% (34) visited the veterinarian regularly, with significantly higher results among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 31.3% (77) participants were regularly deworming their pets, and 19.9% (49) were giving their pets prophylaxis against ectoparasites, with significantly higher results among those who visited the veterinarian regularly (p < 0.0001) and among dog owners (p < 0.05). Only 54.1% (133) had heard about the term "zoonoses" before, and about 8.9% (22) of participants showed a history of zoonotic parasitic diseases, with significantly higher results among those who allowed their animals to play with other animals of neighbors and friends (p < 0.05). The obtained results concluded that the surveyed group had a relatively good degree of knowledge regarding pets as a source of zoonotic illness; raising pet owners' awareness regarding the importance of routine medical examinations and minimizing the contact of pets with other stray animals is essential.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38772640/