Stabilizing Dog Populations and Improving Animal and Public Health Through a Participatory Approach in Indigenous Communities

Free‐roaming dog populations are a global concern for animal and human health including transmission of infectious disease (e.g. rabies, distemper and parasites), dog bite injuries/mortalities, animal welfare and adverse effects on wildlife. In Saskatchewan (SK), Canada, veterinary care is difficult to access in the remote and sparsely inhabited northern half of the province, where the population is predominately Indigenous. Even where veterinary clinics are readily available, there are important barriers such as cost, lack of transportation, unique cultural perspectives on dog husbandry and perceived need for veterinary care. We report the effects of introducing a community action plan designed to improve animal and human health, increase animal health literacy and benefit community well‐being in two Indigenous communities where a dog‐related child fatality recently occurred. Initial door‐to‐door dog demographic surveys indicated that most dogs were sexually intact (92% of 382 dogs), and few had ever been vaccinated (6%) or dewormed (6%). Approximately three animal‐related injuries requiring medical care were reported in the communities per 1000 persons per year (95% CL: 1.6–6.6), and approximately 86% of 145 environmentally collected dog faecal samples contained parasites, far above levels reported in other urban or rural settings in SK. Following two subsidized spay/neuter clinics and active rehoming of dogs, parasite levels in dog faeces decreased significantly (P < 0.001), and important changes were observed in the dog demographic profile. This project demonstrates the importance of engaging people using familiar, local resources and taking a community specific approach. As well, it highlights the value of integrated, cross‐jurisdictional cooperation, utilizing the resources of university researchers, veterinary personnel, public health, environmental health and community‐based advocates to work together to solve complex issues in One Health. On‐going surveillance on dog bites, parasite levels and dog demographics are needed to measure the long‐term sustainability of benefits to dog, human and wildlife health.     

湘东地区花岗岩红壤在中国土壤系统分类中的归属

为了研究湖南省东部花岗岩红壤在中国土壤系统分类中的归属,选取湘东地区8个由花岗岩母质发育的典型土壤剖面,在对其成土环境、剖面形态特征及其理化性质进行研究的基础上,按照中国土壤系统分类方案,检索出了其诊断层和诊断特性,据此确定了其在中国系统分类中的归属。结果表明,供试的8个土壤剖面包含了淡薄表层、暗瘠表层、低活性富铁层、黏化层等9个诊断层和诊断特性,其在中国系统分类体系中的位置分别为:淋溶土、富铁土和雏形土3个土纲;湿润淋溶土、湿润富铁土和湿润雏形土3个亚纲;简育湿润富铁土、铝质湿润淋溶土、酸性湿润淋溶土和铝质湿润雏形土4个土类;普通铝质湿润雏形土、普通简育湿润富铁土、普通铝质湿润淋溶土、普通酸性湿润淋溶土4个亚类;按照土族和土系划分标准,建立了黏壤质硅质混合型酸性热性-普通铝质湿润雏形土等6个土族和脱甲系(43-CS18)等8个土系。实践表明,目前的土族土系划分标准适用于供试土壤基层分类单元划分。与土壤发生学分类结果相比,土壤系统分类结果更能定量反映出湘东花岗岩母质发育土壤性状的差异,进而客观反映出土壤发育阶段和土壤类型的差异。     

新疆乌鲁木齐市宠物源葡萄球菌耐药性及其相关耐药基因的检测

为了解新疆乌鲁木齐市宠物源葡萄球菌对临床常用抗菌药物的耐药情况及携带耐药基因的情况,采用琼脂稀释法对乌鲁木齐市某宠物医院分离鉴定的154株宠物源葡萄球菌进行临床常用10种抗菌药物耐药性检测,并用PCR方法检测葡萄球菌9种耐药基因:喹诺酮类(norA)、大环内酯-林可胺类(ermB)、四环素类(tetA、tetM)、β-内酰胺类(mecA、femA)和氟苯尼考类(cfr、fexA和fexB)。耐药性检查结果表明葡萄球菌对苯唑西林、四环素、左氧氟沙星和氟苯尼考的耐药率在50%以上,宠物源葡萄球菌多重耐药集中在4~5类,且耐药谱型多样化。基因检测结果显示fexA(31.2%)基因的检出率最高,其次是ermB(26.7%),未检出cfr、fexB和tetA基因。新疆乌鲁木齐市宠物源葡萄球菌普遍存在耐药和多重耐药情况,其中氟苯尼考耐药基因fexA检出率最高,揭示宠物源葡萄球菌耐药情况严重,应根据药敏试验及基因检测结果,合理选用抗菌药物,并加强对耐药菌的监测。     

Captive Agamid lizards in Germany: Prevalence,pathogenicity and therapy of gastrointestinal protozoan and helminth infections

Reptiles are becoming popular pets in many parts of the world. They are also known to harbor numerous gastrointestinal parasites. We used faecal smears to examine 748 stool samples from 14 different agamid lizard species. In addition, we used coproantigen ELISA tests (11 samples) and immunofluorescence assays (IFA) (19 samples) to detect reptile Cryptosporidium infections. In 28 cases, veterinarians requested therapy to treat oxyurid- and/or Isospora amphiboluri-infections and resent fecal samples after proposed therapy and anti-parasitic treatments had been applied. We also performed complete dissections of 24 deceased agamas in order to specify protozoan and helminth parasite infections.Overall, the examined fecal samples contained 6 different taxa. Oxyurids (Pharyngodonidae) were the most prevalent nematodes (41.2%), followed by I. amphiboluri (17.0%), Entamoeba spp. (0.8%), Choleoeimeria spp. (0.5%), Trichomonas spp. (0.3%), Cryptosporidium spp. (0.3%) and Strongyloides-like nematodes (0.1%). I. amphiboluri infections were significantly more prevalent (Chi-square test: χ² = 21,5, df = 1, P < 0.001) in juvenile agamid lizards (31.9%) than in adults (14.2%). One of 11 (9.1%) coproantigen ELISA-examined samples was positive for Cryptosporidium. In 10.5% of the samples we found oocysts of Cryptosporidium. Thirteen (54.2%) of necropsied agamid lizards were infected with endoparasites and it is likely that three (12.5%) of them died due to severe parasitic infections. 74.0% of the samples that were submitted after therapy had been applied were negative. The high prevalences and pathological findings of several clinical parasitoses observed in these exotic reptiles calls for more detailed investigations on agamid gastrointestinal parasite fauna.     

伦理学视域下的城乡宠物饲养弊病及其改进措施

随着我国社会经济的发展和城市化进程的加速.城市居民家庭的独立性、封闭性、个性化和人口老年化问题日益突出,居民的休闲、消费和情感寄托方式也呈多样化发展.宠物数量的日益增多带来的一系列社会问题.对我国城乡饲养宠物存在的问题进行了阐述.并提出了改进我国城乡饲养宠物的措施.     

Detection of zoonotic intestinal parasites in public parks of Spain. Potential epidemiological role of microsporidia

Several studies have demonstrated that the soil of public parks presents an important source of infection which has a significant impact on public health. Children are the main group affected by accidentally ingestion of contaminated soil. This study was performed in order to identify the presence of zoonotic parasites in dog and cat faecal and soil samples from public parks of Madrid, Spain. Six hundred twenty-five and seventy-nine soil and faecal samples (presumably from dogs and cats) respectively were collected from 67 parks. Intestinal parasites were identified in 27 parks (40.3%), which were contamined with Giardia sp. (19.4%), microsporidia (19.4%), Toxocara spp. (16.4%), Cryptosporidium sp. (6%), Entamoeba histolytica (3%) and Ancylostomidae (3%). Combinations of two or more intestinal parasites were found in 11 parks, and it was common to find Giardia and microsporidia together in samples. Intestinal parasites were detected in 18% (112/625) of soil samples. The most frequent parasite species found in the examined soil samples were Toxocara spp. (16.4%), followed by Giardia sp. (4.5%) and Strongyloides sp. larvae (3%). The zoonotic parasites found in the 79 faecal samples were Giardia sp. (17.7%), Cryptosporidium sp. (9%), E. histolytica (2.5%), Trichuris vulpis (1.3%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%) and microsporidia spores (28%). Microsporidia characterization by amplification of DNA confirmed 10 samples as positive, eight for E. bieneusi and two for E. hellem by PCR. The role of those parasites in the environment are discussed.     

温室生态参数网络智能监测系统的设计

以温度、湿度、二氧化碳浓度变送器等作为底层电路的监测器件,以VB计算机高级语言制作上位机监测人机界面,设计了温室生态参数网络智能监测系统,实时监测温室生态参数的变化,提示温室管理人员及时作出处理,同时系统定时保存采集的温室生态参数,供科研人员调查研究作物长势.通过系统装置投入实际运行,结果证实了温室生态参数网络智能监测系统设计的正确性与可行性.     

Leptospirosis in a Small Animal Veterinarian: Reminder to Follow Standardized Infection Control Procedures

A small animal veterinarian in Washington State developed leptospirosis after an occupational exposure. Approximately 10 days prior to the onset of illness, he examined a healthy appearing pet rat for fleas, which urinated on his un‐gloved hands. Although the veterinarian washed his hands after the examination, his hands had abrasions from gardening. The veterinarian was hospitalized for 12 days and was able to return to work part‐time 1 month following discharge. This illness may have been prevented if the veterinarian had been wearing gloves during the examination as recommended by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV), Veterinary Infection Control Committee, in its Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel (2008). This case alerts us to the need for small animal veterinarians to minimize their infection risk by practising recommended infection control procedures. Veterinarians should establish and follow a written infection control plan based on the standardized infection control approach adopted by the NASPHV to minimize their risk of occupational zoonotic infections.