[Zoonotic intestinal nematodes in dogs from public parks in Yucatán, México].

INTRODUCTION: Dogs represent a potential public health risk because of the natural transmission of zoonotic parasitic infections. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency and to determine factors associated with the presence of intestinal nematode eggs in dog feces collected in public parks of Mérida,Yucatán, México. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 dog fecal samples collected from 20 public parks in two areas of Mérida were analyzed. Samples were processed by the centrifugation-flotation and the McMaster techniques to confirm the presence and to quantify the excretion of intestinal nematode eggs per gram of feces. The factors associated with the presence of nematode eggs were identified using the chi square univariate analysis. RESULTS: We found an 11% frequency of fecal samples positive for intestinal nematode eggs. Eggs of three species of parasites were identified: Ancylostoma caninum was the most common (10%), followed by Toxocara canis (10%), and Trichuris vulpis (1%). Most positive samples were infected with only one intestinal nematode (10%), and only 1 % was positive for a mixed infection by A. caninum and T. vulpis. The presence of stray dogs in public parks was an associated factor (p=0.046) with a higher number of fecal samples positive for intestinal nematode eggs. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of intestinal nematodes in dog feces with zoonotic potential was high in parks of Mérida, Yucatán, México; samples from parks where there were stray dogs had a higher possibility of being positive.

Nematodos intestinales de perros en parques públicos de Yucatán, México / Zoonotic intestinal nematodes in dogs from public parks in Yucatán, México

Resumen Introducción. Los perros representan un potencial riesgo para la salud pública debido a que transmiten infecciones parasitarias al hombre. Objetivo. Estimar la frecuencia y determinar los factores asociados a la presencia de huevos de nematodos intestinales en heces de perros recolectadas en parques públicos de Mérida, Yucatán, México. Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron 100 muestras de heces de perros recolectadas en 20 parques públicos de dos zonas de la ciudad. Las muestras se procesaron mediante las técnicas de flotación centrifugada y de McMaster para confirmar la presencia de huevos de nematodos intestinales y cuantificarlos por gramo de heces. Se determinaron los factores asociados a la presencia de los huevos mediante un análisis univariado de χ2. Resultados. Se encontró una frecuencia de 11 %. Se identificaron huevos de tres especies de parásitos y Ancylostoma caninum fue el más frecuente (10 %), seguido por Toxocara canis (1 %) y Trichuris vulpis (1 %). La mayoría de las muestras positivas presentaba infección con un nematodo intestinal únicamente (10 %) y solo el 1 % resultó positivo para infección mixta por A. caninum y T. vulpis. La presencia de perros sin dueño en los parques públicos fue el factor asociado (p=0,046) con un mayor número de heces positivas para huevos de nematodos intestinales. Conclusiones. En los parques de la ciudad se encontraron heces de perros con huevos de nematodos intestinales con potencial zoonótico; la probabilidad de que las muestras fueran positivas fue mayor en los parques con presencia de perros sin dueño.

Abstract Introduction: Dogs represent a potential public health risk because of the natural transmission of zoonotic parasitic infections. Objective: To estimate the frequency and to determine factors associated with the presence of intestinal nematode eggs in dog feces collected in public parks of Mérida,Yucatán, México. Materials and methods: A total of 100 dog fecal samples collected from 20 public parks in two areas of Mérida were analyzed. Samples were processed by the centrifugation-flotation and the McMaster techniques to confirm the presence and to quantify the excretion of intestinal nematode eggs per gram of feces. The factors associated with the presence of nematode eggs were identified using the chi square univariate analysis. Results: We found an 11% frequency of fecal samples positive for intestinal nematode eggs. Eggs of three species of parasites were identified: Ancylostoma caninum was the most common (10%), followed by Toxocara canis (10%), and Trichuris vulpis (1%). Most positive samples were infected with only one intestinal nematode (10%), and only 1 % was positive for a mixed infection by A. caninum and T. vulpis. The presence of stray dogs in public parks was an associated factor (p=0.046) with a higher number of fecal samples positive for intestinal nematode eggs. Conclusions: The frequency of intestinal nematodes in dog feces with zoonotic potential was high in parks of Mérida, Yucatán, México; samples from parks where there were stray dogs had a higher possibility of being positive.