Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog parks in Lisbon have high rates of dog parasite contamination
By Ferreira, Ana et al.·Published in Journal of environmental and public health·2017·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Urban Dog Parks as Sources of Canine Parasites: Contamination Rates and Pet Owner Behaviours in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that one-third of dog fecal samples collected from three dog parks in Lisbon, Portugal, contained parasites, including hookworms and other types. The soil in these parks was also contaminated with hookworm eggs, which can pose health risks to both dogs and humans. This research highlights the importance of being aware of potential parasite exposure in dog parks. Pet owners should consider regular veterinary check-ups and preventive treatments to keep their pets safe from these infections.
People also search for: dog park parasites · hookworm in dogs · how to prevent dog parasites · dog health risks in parks
Abstract
Dog parks represent a recent trend in western countries, enabling owners to spend quality time with their pets in a controlled environment. Despite their growing popularity, few studies have been performed to date on these parks to investigate dog intestinal parasitic infections and soil contamination. The present study examined 369 faecal and 18 soil samples collected from 3 dog parks in Greater Lisbon, Portugal. Additionally, 102 interviews were performed with dog owners to assess dog-walking behaviours and parasite risk. In total, 33% of the faecal dog samples were infected with at least one parasitic agent: hookworms (16.5%),spp. (11.9%),spp. (11.4%),(1.1%),spp. (1.1%),spp. (0.5%), andsp. (0.3%). The soil of all the parks was contaminated with hookworm eggs. This is the first study performed in a European urban area to assess canine faecal contamination and parasitic agents in dog parks. Our results highlight the potential of these parks as a source of transmission for canine parasites, including some with zoonotic potential. Public awareness and effective preventive measures should be promoted to minimise the health-risk impact to both animals and humans, under the scope of environmental and public health.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28947905/