Parasitology. 2013 Nov;140(13):1674-84. doi: 10.1017/S0031182013001182. Epub 2013 Aug 28.
Dog ownership, dog behaviour and transmission of Echinococcus spp. in the Alay Valley, southern Kyrgyzstan.
Abstract
Echinococcosis
is a re-emerging zoonotic disease in Kyrgyzstan, and the incidence of
human infection has increased substantially since the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991. Domestic dogs are hosts of Echinococcus spp. and
play an important role in the transmission of these parasites. The
demography, ecology and behaviour of dogs are therefore relevant in
studying Echinococcus spp. transmission. Dog demographics, roles of
dogs, dog movements and faecal environmental contamination were assessed
in four rural communities in the Alay Valley, southern Kyrgyzstan.
Arecoline purge data revealed for the first time that E. granulosus, E.
canadensis and E. multilocularis were present in domestic dogs in the
Alay Valley. Surveys revealed that many households had dogs and that
dogs played various roles in the communities, as pets, guard dogs or sheep dogs.
Almost all dogs were free to roam, and GPS data revealed that many
moved outside their communities, thus being able to scavenge offal and
consume rodents. Faecal environmental contamination was high, presenting
a significant infection risk to the local communities.
- PMID:
- 23985326
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- PMCID:
- PMC3806042
