Parasitic Zoonoses: From a Public Health Perspective
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 9437
Special Issue Editors
Interests: parasitic zoonoses; foodborne parasites; parasite epidemiology; neglected tropical diseases; small-mammal endoparasites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: parasitic zoonoses; foodborne parasites; parasite epidemiology; neglected tropical diseases; parasites and nutrition
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Human beings coexist in a close relationship with various animals, and this interrelation can be a source of diseases with a marked impact on public health and the social and economic well-being of the world population. These diseases, transmissible from animals to humans, either by direct contact or through contamination of water, food or the environment, are known as zoonoses. In humans, more than 1400 pathogens are known, of which about 900 species are zoonotic, with more than 200 of them being parasitic zoonoses, caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods, not only having an impact on health but also having socioeconomic repercussions, since they also cause diseases in animals. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), has established the concept of "One Health" to promote multisectoral responses to food safety hazards, zoonosis risks and other threats to public health in the interaction between humans, animals and the ecosystem, and to provide guidance on how to reduce these risks.
The Special Issue “Parasitic Zoonoses: From a Public Health Perspective” of the journal Animals aims to publish high-quality original research and reviews which focus on all aspects related to parasitic zoonoses and foodborne and arthropod-borne parasites, such as epidemiology, ecology, case reports, pathogenesis, treatment, diagnosis, control, taxonomy and systematics, genetics, molecular biology and immunology.
Dr. Màrius Vicent Fuentes i Ferrer
Dr. María Trelis Villanueva
Dr. Sandra Sáez Durán
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- parasitic zoonosis
- neglected parasitic diseases
- public health
- epidemiology
- ecology
- protozoa
- helminths
- arthropods
- diagnosis
- treatment
- control
- domestic animals
- wildlife
- exotic animals
- foodborne parasites
- arthropod-borne parasites
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Gastrointestinal Parasites in Companion, Shelter and Working dogs in a Northern Alentejo district, Portugal - Infection and Public Health risks
Authors: Mariana Carvalho; Maria João Vila-Viçosa; Luís Madeira de Carvalho; Helder Cortes
Affiliation: a. CIISA – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon;
b. Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS);
c. Departamento Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Évora, Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, Mitra Campus - Complexo do Hospital Veterinário, Apartado: 94 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
Abstract: Despite the progress in Small Animal Medicine through the identification and knowledge of parasitic species and use of anthelmintics, we should not devalue the increased incidence of zoonotic parasites that nowadays are less common, but still a persistent threat to Public Health. The purpose of the present study was the detection of gastrointestinal parasites and their prevalence in companion, working and shelter dogs in Portalegre, a Northern Alentejo district, Portugal. In total, 93 faecal samples were collected and analysed by Willis flotation, modified and adapted sedimentation and Baermann methods and faecal cultures, when required. The global prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 14.0%. The coprological methods showed the following genera/species: Uncinaria stenocephala (10.8%), Toxocara canis (1.1%), Toxascaris leonina (1.1%), Cystoisospora canis (1.1%), Giardia sp. (1.1%) and Alaria alata (1.1%). None of the animals with a positive sample showed clinical signs indicative of parasite infection and there was an increase of prevalence rates on ascending order of the companion (6.1%), shelter (13.3%) and working dogs (23.3%). Our results showed a low prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, which can indicate the increasing awareness of dog owners and shelter employees, who follow veterinarians’ recommendations, through the adoption of regular parasite control, reduction of access to raw meat and the removal of faeces from public places, which reduces environmental contamination. Nevertheless, four of the six detected parasites have zoonotic potential, e.g. Alaria alata, Giardia sp., Toxocara canis and Uncinaria stenocephala and are still present in working dogs and its detection is highlighted since these animals seem to be more prone to parasitic infection and play a major risk regarding the transmission of these parasites.