Abstract

ANDRESIUK, María Vanesa et al. Relevamiento de parásitos zoonóticos en materia fecal canina y su importancia para la salud de los niños. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2004, vol.102, n.5, pp.325-329. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Canine population in Mar del Plata city, Argentina, is over 100.000 dogs. This situation produces a great number of canine feces in the environment with the dangerous consequences on human health, increasing the probability of infection with zoonotic parasites from public places where dogs and humans co-ocurr. The aim of the present research was to study the parasite condition of samples of canine feces collected from public squares of Mar del Plata city and from the Municipal Center of Zoonosis, in order to know the sanitary risk of the public environments of the city. Material and methods. From September 2001 to March 2002, 205 dogs from the Municipal Center of Zoonosis and 288 samples of feces from 21 squares of Mar del Plata city were examined for zoonotic parasites. Samples were processed by Willis floating-sedimentation technique. Total prevalence by parasite species and percentage of mono and poliparasitized samples were calculated. Samples were statistically compared by test. Results. Parasites identified from squares were uncinariae, Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara canis, coccidia and Amoeba spp. From the Municipal Center of Zoonosis (CMZ), in addition to the above mentioned parasites, Capillaria aerophila and Dipylidium caninum were also found. Total prevalence of parasites and percentage of poliparasitized samples were significantly higher in the Municipal Center of Zoonosis than in public squares. Conclusion. The results showed evidence of a high prevalence of canine enteroparasites of zoonotic relevance on human and veterinary health in dogs inhabiting public places of the city. Education campaigns directed to public health care and to increase the responsibility of people on pets are needed.

Keywords : Dogs; Feces; Enteroparasites; Public places; Public health.

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