Antimicrobial Resistance in Wildlife: Implications for Public Health

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial‐resistant (AMR) bacteria in natural environments is a major concern with serious implications for human and animal health. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of AMR Escherichia coli (E. coli) in wild birds and mammalian species. Thirty faecal samples were collected from each of the following wildlife species: herring gulls (Larus argentatus), black‐headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), lesser black‐back gulls (Larus fuscus), hybrid deer species (Cervus elaphus x Cervus nippon) and twenty‐six from starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). A total of 115 E. coli isolates were isolated from 81 of 146 samples. Confirmed E. coli isolates were tested for their susceptibility to seven antimicrobial agents by disc diffusion. In total, 5.4% (8/146) of samples exhibited multidrug‐resistant phenotypes. The phylogenetic group and AMR‐encoding genes of all multidrug resistance isolates were determined by PCR. Tetracycline‐, ampicillin‐ and streptomycin‐resistant isolates were the most common resistant phenotypes. The following genes were identified in E. coli: bla_TEM, strA, tet(A) and tet(B). Plasmids were identified in all samples that exhibited multidrug‐resistant phenotypes. This study indicates that wild birds and mammals may function as important host reservoirs and potential vectors for the spread of resistant bacteria and genetic determinants of AMR.     

Cats and Toxoplasma: Implications for Public Health

Cats are popular as pets worldwide because they are easy to care for and provide companionship that enriches the lives of human beings. Little attention has been focused on their potential to contaminate the environment with zoonotic pathogens. One such pathogen, the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, rarely causes clinical manifestations in cats or immunocompetent humans; however, it can have serious adverse effects on human foetuses and immunocompromised patients. Many human infections are believed to be acquired from eating undercooked or raw meat, such as pork and lamb ( Tenter et al. Int. J. Parasitol., 30, 2000, 1217 ; Dubey et al. J. Parasitol. 91, 2005, 1082 ). However, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in human populations that do not consume meat or eat it well‐cooked suggests that the acquisition of infection from the environment, via oocysts in soil, water or on uncooked vegetables, is also important ( Rawal. Trans. Royal Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 53, 1959, 61 ; Roghmann et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 60, 1999, 790 ; Chacin‐Bonilla et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 65, 2001, 131 ). In the past 20 years, two changes occurred that significantly increased the size of the cat population in the USA. Pet cat ownership grew from 50 million to 90 million animals, and animal welfare activists created feeding stations for abandoned and free‐roaming cats. As many cat owners allow their cats to deposit faeces outside and cats maintained in colonies always defecate outside, ample opportunity exists for T. gondii oocysts to enter the environment and be transmitted to humans. Prevention efforts should focus on educating cat owners about the importance of collecting cat faeces in litter boxes, spaying owned cats to reduce overpopulation, reducing the numbers of feral cats and promoting rigorous hand hygiene after gardening or soil contact.     

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Urban Dogs in Perth, Western Australia

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in a sample of urban dogs in Perth and the knowledge of their owners about the control and zoonotic transmission of these parasites. Faecal samples (421), collected from dogs originating from five sources, were examined by microscopy and questionnaires administered to dog owners and managers/owners of pet shops. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism was higher in pet shop puppies (51%), than in dogs from refuges (37%), breeding kennels (32.7%), veterinary clinics (15.6%) and exercise areas (5.3%). Protozoa, in particular Giardia, were detected more frequently (22.1%) than helminth parasites. After adjusting for other factors with multiple logistic regression, puppies less than 6 months of age, dogs living in households with more than one dog, and dogs from refuges were significantly more likely to be parasitized. The prevalence of Giardia was found to be directly associated with the number of doses of anthelmintics given in a year, increasing 1.2 times for each dose administered. The majority of owners were aware of the potential risk to human health from canine helminths, however only one third were aware of the means of transmission to humans. It is concluded that veterinarians can play an important role in increasing the level of awareness of canine zoonotic parasites.     

福建省实验动物体内外寄生虫调查研究初报

本文报道了福建省在普通环境下饲养的5种708只实验动物受体，内外寄生虫感染的初步调查研究结果。在被检动物体内外，获得寄生虫种30属36种。其中原虫17种、绦虫2种、线虫10种、昆虫7种；阳性检出率65．96％(467／708)；人兽共患寄生虫种75．00％(27／36)。结果表明本省实验动物在普通环境下受寄生虫的自然感染较重，肠道原虫和蠕虫尤甚。应加强实验动物环境设施和饲料的标准化及笼、饲具的卫生管理，同时应定期进行寄生虫学的监测。     

规模化全舍饲湖羊消化道寄生虫感染情况调查

为了解规模化舍饲湖羊消化道寄生虫感染情况,本研究应用饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮法、饱和盐水漂浮法、卢戈氏碘液染色法、离心沉淀法和麦克马斯特氏计数法等对采自河南部分地区规模化全舍饲湖羊养殖场共计553份粪便样品进行了调查。调查结果显示：寄生虫总感染率高达97.47%,75.23%的样品混合感染,样品混合感染的寄生虫种类最多为5种;共查到球虫、隐孢子虫、贾第虫、阿米巴、鞭虫、圆线虫和绦虫7种寄生虫,感染率分别为90.42%、0.90%、4.88%、65.64%、12.48%、42.13%和4.88%;感染强度最大的为球虫,每克粪便的卵囊数（OPG）最高达652 000,其次为圆线虫,每克粪便的虫卵数（EPG）最高为7 000;湖羊消化道寄生虫感染无明显的年龄、性别差异（P>0.05）;季节流行动态显示,春、夏、秋三季的寄生虫感染率与冬季相比有较大差异。以上结果说明,湖羊消化道寄生虫感染较为普遍,应采取有效的综合防控措施,以保障羊群的健康发展。     

Parasites of Horses and Dogs in N.S.W

Abstract of paper read before the Veterinary Section of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, Adelaide, August , 1924.     

宠物毛丝鼠肠道寄生虫感染情况调查

为了解宠物毛丝鼠肠道寄生虫感染情况,采用饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮法、改良抗酸染色法和卢戈碘液染色法对郑州某宠物市场宠物毛丝鼠96份粪便样品进行检查。结果共查出2种原虫和1种蠕虫。寄生虫总感染率为46.9％,贾第虫感染率最高,为37.5％,球虫和短膜壳绦虫感染率次之,分别为8.3％和2.1％。贾第虫感染率与动物年龄（P>0.05）和性别（P>0.05）均无统计学相关性。这是国内首次报道宠物毛丝鼠肠道寄生虫感染情况。     

A Serological Survey of Dogs for Brucella canis in Southwestern Ontario

Sera from 2 000 dogs from southwestern Ontario were tested for antibodies to Brucella canis by a rapid slide agglutination test. The 100 positively reacting sera were tested by tube agglutination and immunoprecipitation (gel diffusion) tests. Thirty-one of these sera gave suspicious titres and one a positive titre in the tube agglutination test. Six of the rapid slide test positive sera gave positive reactions in immunoprecipitation tests. One dog was identified which was found to have a history very suggestive of B. canis infection. It was judged that 0.3% of sera tested showed serological evidence of B. canis infection. The complexities of the serological diagnosis of B. canis infection was apparent, in particular the tendency to false-positive results in the rapid slide agglutination test.     

绵羊肠道寄生虫感染情况调查

应用离心沉淀法、卢戈氏碘液染色法、饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮法对采自河南省6个地市及吉林双辽、辽宁朝阳和山东东营共1109份绵羊粪便样品进行检查,结果发现9种(类)寄生虫,寄生虫总感染率为97.2%,以球虫感染率最高,达93.5%,卵囊数(OPG)最高值达652000;圆线虫和阿米巴感染率较高,分别为51.2%和71.3%,圆线虫卵数(EPG)最高值达69400;隐孢子虫、贾第虫、鞭虫、细颈线虫、莫尼茨绦虫和矛形双腔吸虫感染率分别为1.6%、5.7%、9.7%、0.3%、5.1%和2.6%;80.7%的绵羊阳性样品呈混合感染,最多可达5种。1岁以下和1岁以上绵羊寄生虫感染率分别为98.5%和87.5%;舍饲和放牧绵羊寄生虫感染率分别为97.5%和96.8%;寄生虫季节流行动态调查显示夏秋季节寄生虫感染率高于冬春季节。调查结果表明绵羊肠道寄生虫感染较为普遍,应加强其综合防控措施。     

Free‐Roaming Dogs in Nepal: Demographics,Health and Public Knowledge,Attitudes and Practices

In Nepal, most dogs are free to roam and may transmit diseases to humans and animals. These dogs often suffer from malnutrition and lack basic health care. Minimal information is available about their demographics and about public attitudes concerning dogs and diseases. We carried out a study in Chitwan District (central Nepal), to collect baseline data on free‐roaming owned dog demographics, assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of dog owners concerning dogs and rabies, evaluate rabies vaccination coverage and anthelmintic treatment of dogs, measure dogs' response to rabies vaccination and assess dog health through body condition scores and parasites. We conducted household interviews with owners of free‐roaming female dogs (n = 60) and administered dogs with rabies vaccination and anthelmintics. Dog owners regularly fed free‐roaming dogs but provided minimal health care; 42% of respondents did not claim ownership of the dog for which they provided care. We collected skin, faecal and blood samples for parasite identification and for measuring rabies virus‐specific antibodies. Ninety‐two per cent of dog owners were aware of the routes of rabies virus transmission, but only 35% described the correct post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following a dog bite. Twenty‐seven per cent of the dogs had measurable rabies virus‐specific antibody titres and 14% had received anthelmintics in the previous year. Following rabies vaccination, 97% of dogs maintained an adequate antibody titre for ≥6 months. Most dogs appeared healthy, although haemoprotozoans, endoparasites and ectoparasites were identified in 12%, 73% and 40% of the dogs, respectively. Poor skin condition and parasite load were associated. Seventy‐four per cent of the females had litters in 1 year (mean litter size = 4.5). Births occurred between September and February; we estimated 60% mortality in puppies. We concluded that vaccination coverage, PEP awareness and anthelmintic treatment should be emphasized in educational programmes focussed on animal welfare, veterinary and public health.     

福州地区犬肠道寄生虫感染情况调查

2009年3月至2010年10月,对福州地区所辖福州市区、福清市和闽侯县的犬肠道寄生虫感染情况进行调查。收集来自福州市区、福清市和闽侯县的动物医院、农村散养户和流浪的不同品种,不同年龄,不同性别的526只犬的粪便,用水洗沉淀法、饱和盐水漂浮法和硫酸锌离心浮聚法进行肠道寄生虫检查,福州地区犬肠道寄生虫种类调查结果如下:(1)调查发现福州地区犬感染的肠道寄生虫共6种,包括犬钩虫(Ancylostoma coninum)、犬弓首蛔虫(Toxocara canis)、犬泡状带绦虫(Taenia hydatigena)、犬复孔绦虫(Dipylidium conium)、犬等孢球虫(Isospora canis)和犬华支睾吸虫(Clonorchis sinensis)。(2)福州地区犬消化道寄生虫总感染率为59.32%。(3)各种犬肠道寄生虫感染率不同,犬弓首蛔虫感染率为53.80%,犬钩虫感染率为22.62%,犬复孔绦虫感染率为25.86%,犬泡状带绦虫感染率为47.91%,犬等孢球虫感染率为7.98%,华支睾吸虫的感染率为2.09%。(4)调查发现有121例同时感染两种肠道寄生虫,占肠道寄生虫总感染率的23.00%,同时感染三种肠道寄生虫的有98例,占总感染率的18.63%。(5)调查发现不同年龄段其寄生虫感染率差异明显,幼犬感染率要明显高于成年犬,不同样品采集地点由于饲养环境不同,犬肠道寄生虫感染率有明显差异。(6)本次调查未发现犬肠道寄生虫感染在品种、性别方面的差异。