4.6 Article

Investigating the free-roaming dog population and gastrointestinal parasite diversity in Tulum, Mexico

Journal

PLOS ONE
Volume 17, Issue 10, Pages -

Publisher

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276880

Keywords

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Funding

  1. University of Michigan Program in Biology

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Free-roaming domestic dogs pose significant threats to wildlife and public health. A study estimated the dog population and identified the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in Tulum, Mexico, highlighting the importance of understanding free-roaming dog ecology and educating the public.
Free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) pose major conservation and public health risks worldwide. To better understand the threat of domestic dogs to wildlife and people and add to the growing literature on free-roaming dog ecology, a study was conducted to estimate the dog population in Tulum, Mexico. A modified mark-recapture technique and program MARK were used to obtain dog population estimates along six different transects dividing the city. Population estimates ranged from 19.75 dogs in one transect to 101.841 dogs in another, with 150 total dogs identified throughout the study and an estimated minimum population density of 48.57 dogs/km(2). Fecal samples were also opportunistically collected for parasite identification through fecal flotation analysis using the McMaster technique. Out of 25 samples collected, 19 tested positive for gastrointestinal parasites with the most common species found being Ancylostoma caninum, followed by Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, and Cystoisospora spp. Parasite loads ranged from 50 to 10,700 ova per gram of feces. The large population of free-roaming dogs and the prevalence of three zoonotic parasites highlight the importance of understanding free-roaming dog ecology and educating the public on the health risks free-roaming dogs pose. Los perros callejeros (Canis lupus familiaris) representan un gran riesgo para la conservacion de animales y la salud publica mundialmente. Para comprender mejor la amenaza que significan los perros domesticos para la fauna silvestre y los humanos y aportar a la creciente bibliografia sobre la ecologia de los perros callejeros, se realizo una investigacion para estimar la poblacion de los perros en Tulum, Mexico. Se utilizo una tecnica modificada de marcado y recaptura junto con el programa MARK para estimar la poblacion canina en seis transectos de la ciudad. Los estimados varian desde 19.75 perros en un transecto hasta 101,841 en otro, con un total de 150 perros identificados en el transcurso de la investigacion y una densidad minima estimada de 48,57 perros/km(2). Ademas, se hizo una recoleccion oportunista de muestras de heces para la identificacion de parasitos por medio del analisis de flotacion fecal, con el metodo McMaster. De las 25 muestras recolectadas, 19 resultaron positivas para parasitos gastrointestinales, de las cuales las especies mas comunes fueron Ancylostomoa caninum, seguida por Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, y Cystoisospora spp. Las cargas parasitarias variaron desde 50 hasta 10.700 ovulos por gramo de heces. La alta poblacion de perros callejeros y la prevalencia de tres enfermedades zoonoticas resaltan la importancia de entender la ecologia de los perros callejeros y educar al publico sobre los riesgos que significan los perros callejeros para la salud.

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