Zoonotic intestinal parasites in free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): a risk to public health in a Mexican Protected Area

Abstract

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) have been in contact with humans for thousands of years, playing an important role in societies. Nonetheless, the lack of responsible ownership has contributed to the transition from companion dogs to free-ranging or feral dogs that can be reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. Our goal was to identify zoonotic intestinal parasites in free-ranging dogs in a Mexican Protected Area. A total of 132 scat samples from free-ranging dogs were collected and examined using the Faust flotation technique. We identified a total of nine parasite species, four platyhelminthes, and five nematodes. Eight of nine identified parasite are zoonotic. The most frequent zoonotic parasites are Ancylostoma caninum and Ascaris spp. (19.7% each) followed by Toxascaris leonina (17.4%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (7.6%). The least frequent are Dipylidium caninum (2.2%), Capillaria spp., Hymenolepis diminuta, and Hymenolepis nana (0.75% each). This study provides the first description of intestinal zoonotic parasites richness in free-ranging dogs within a Mexican Protected Area. The presence of zoonotic parasites in canine scats represents a high risk to public health, mainly for the transmission of some species through cutaneous and visceral migrans larvae, especially in infants and kids. We recommend specific measures to prevent, control and mitigate the presence of free-ranging dogs in Protected Areas.