Contamination of Italian parks with canine helminth eggs and health risk perception of the public

Publication date: Available online 5 October 2019Source: Preventive Veterinary MedicineAuthor(s): Giulia Simonato, Rudi Cassini, Simone Morelli, Angela Di Cesare, Francesco La Torre, Federica Marcer, Donato Traversa, Mario Pietrobelli, Antonio Frangipane di RegalbonoAbstractThe contamination of public areas by dog faeces is a social behaviour and public health problem. In fact, the most frequently isolated intestinal helminths in dogs are distributed worldwide, and most of them have zoonotic potential (i.e., ascarids and ancylostomatids).The aims of this survey were to evaluate citizen awareness of health risks for animals and humans related to canine faecal pollution and to estimate the presence and prevalence of intestinal helminths in dog faeces collected in green public areas in three municipalities of Italy (Padua, Rome and Teramo). The awareness of citizens about the health risks related to faecal pollution was evaluated using questionnaires submitted to 313 dog owners and 159 non-dog owners in Padua (n = 341) and Rome (n = 131). Most dog owners (85.4%) declared they picked up their dog’s faeces every time, and these data were confirmed by operators secretly observing dog owners. Moreover, 84.3% participants were aware of the existence of a municipal regulation concerning the correct management of animals in public areas with no significant differences between dog owners and non-dog owners, whereas Rome citizens were significantly more aware than Padua citizen...
Source: Preventive Veterinary Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research