Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasite infections in pet dogs from Rondônia and owner awareness
By Mendonça, Talita Oliveira et al.·Published in International journal of environmental research and public health·2024·School of Agricultural and Veterinary Studies (FCAV), Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Parasitosis in Pet Dogs from Rondônia, Amazon Biome, and Human Perception of Zoonoses.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that a high number of dogs in Rondônia, Brazil, had parasites, with over 74% of the 163 dogs tested showing at least one type of internal parasite. Additionally, nearly 43% of the dogs had external parasites like fleas and ticks. Most dog owners were unaware of the term "zoonoses," which refers to diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, but many believed their dogs could spread illnesses. This highlights the need for better education on pet health and the risks of parasites to both dogs and their owners.
People also search for: dog parasites symptoms · how to treat fleas in dogs · zoonoses in pets · dog health education · internal parasites in dogs
Abstract
Zoonotic parasitic diseases in dogs are particularly concerning in regions with low human development indices due to inadequate sanitary services and insufficient environmental and health education. This study aimed to assess the parasitological status of dogs living in households and evaluate their owners' knowledge about zoonoses. A total of 183 dogs from Rolim de Moura, Rondônia State, were screened for the presence of ectoparasites, and 163 fecal samples were collected for analysis. The results showed that 74.23% (112/163) of the animals had at least one species of endoparasite. The most identified pathogens werespp. (68.71%, 112/163),(11.66%, 19/163),(6.75%, 11/163),(4.91%, 8/163),(1.23%, 2/163), and(0.61%, 1/163). Ectoparasites were observed in 43.17% (79/183) of the evaluated animals, withfound in 31.15% (57/183) andin 20.77% (38/183). Only 11.48% (7/61) of the owners were familiar with the term "Zoonoses." However, a significant majority (83.61%, 51/61) believed that dogs can transmit diseases to humans. Our findings highlight the prevalence of parasites in the studied area and associated risk factors, underscoring the urgent need for educational interventions to raise awareness about these diseases and their risks to human health.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38397629/