title: Canine fecal contamination in a metropolitan area (Milan, north-western Italy): prevalence of intestinal parasites and evaluation of health risks.
abstract: Intestinal parasites of dogs represent a serious threat to human health due to their zoonotic potential. Thus, metropolitan areas presenting high concentrations of pets and urban fecal contamination on public areas are at sanitary risk. Major aim of this survey was to determine prevalence of zoonotic parasites in dog fecal samples collected from public soil of Milan (north-western Italy). Differences in parasites prevalence distribution were explored by a geographical information system- (GIS-) based approach, and risk factors (human density, sizes of green parks, and dog areas) were considered. The metropolitan area was divided into 157 rectangular subareas and sampling was performed following a 1-kilometer straight transect. A total of 463 fecal samples were analyzed using centrifugation-flotation technique and ELISA to detect Giardia and Cryptosporidium coproantigens. A widespread fecal contamination of soil was highlighted, being fecal samples found in 86.8% of the subareas considered. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 16.63%. Zoonotic parasites were found, such as Trichuris vulpis (3.67%), Toxocara canis (1.72%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.86%), Ancylostomatidae (0.43%), and Dipylidium caninum (0.43%). Giardia duodenalis was the most prevalent zoonotic protozoa (11.06%), followed by Cryptosporidium (1.10%). Faeces from subareas characterized by broad green areas showed to be particularly prone to infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20143 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio Aurelio
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zanzani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20143 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Di Cerbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20143 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia Libera
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gazzonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20143 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80137 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80137 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80137 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20143 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9623-9475
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D007558:Italy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*