One health approach to toxocariasis in quilombola communities of southern Brazil

Serosurvey of Coxiella burnetii in Police Officers and Working Dogs in Brazil: Case Report and One Health Implications

BACKGROUND

Although the Coxiella burnetii infection has been investigated in dogs, its role in human transmission remains to be fully established, particularly in close and daily human-dog contact settings, such as in Police K-9 Units.

METHODS

Accordingly, this study aimed to assess anti-C. burnetii antibodies in clinically healthy police officers by an in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and working dogs by a commercial IFA Kit, from the State Special Operations Battalion, Paraná, Southern Brazil.

RESULTS

Overall, 1/18 (5.5%) police officers and 9/30 (30.0%; CI 95% 16.66-47.88) dogs tested seropositive to anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, this is the highest prevalence of Q fever seropositivity among military dogs worldwide. Despite the low sampling rate, a statistically significant association was found between seropositivity and female dogs (p = 0.0492). Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to establish the prevalence of Q Fever in other Brazilian K-9 Units. In summary, this study is the first to conduct a concomitant serosurvey of police officers and working dogs, and its findings should be considered a warning for cross-exposure and transmission of Coxiella burnetii among Police K-9 Units in Brazil and worldwide.

Epidemiological profile of human toxocariasis in patients examined at Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVSA/MS) between 2014 and 2019

INTRODUCTION

Toxocariasis is caused by nematodes of Toxocara genus, which infest dogs and cats, with humans serving as paratenic hosts.

METHODS

The epidemiological profile of patients examined for toxocariasis between October 2014 and October 2019 at Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) was outlined. The frequency of anti-T. canis IgG antibodies were evaluated using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTS

From a total of 734 samples, 56% were from male (p < 0.05). Regarding age, the group with the most solicitations were from ≤11 years old individuals (p < 0.05). Pará state had the highest number of exams requested (92%), with the majority from residents of urban areas, accounting for 81.5% of samples (p < 0.05). The overall toxocariasis seroprevalence was 41.8%, the male sex being the most frequent with 60.9% (p < 0.05). The most affected age group was ≤11 years old, with a total of 67.8% of positive samples (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The high rates obtained emphasize the need for complementary studies on toxocariasis in Brazil, especially in Pará state, contributing to epidemiological surveillance actions in the control of this infection. Besides, health campaigns for domestic and stray animals, also can contribute to a more effective surveillance in controlling parasitic infections and encourages the One Health approach.

Bacterial, Fungal, and Parasitic Zoonoses

Zoonoses encompass several bacterial, parasitic, and mycotic diseases of domestic and free-living animals [...].