Potential Transmission Of Zoonoses Between The Human-Domestic-Wildlife Interface And Its Implication For Sustainable Health.
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Date
2021-09
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University Of Ghana
Abstract
Zoonoses have been of great public health concern and a global phenomenon that continues to challenge both veterinary and human health systems. The risk of zoonoses is predicted to be higher in domestic settings where animals are constantly in close contact with humans and exposure to zoonotic pathogens is very high. In Ghana, some studies to identify zoonotic diseases transmitted by domestic animals or animals in the wild usually consider either the human-domestic interface or human-wildlife interface. Considering that in recent times diseases continue to emerge from unexpected reservoir hosts and through novel pathways, this study investigated zoonotic diseases that are potentially transmissible by domestic and wild animals to humans across the human-domestic-wildlife interface. It also assessed the awareness and knowledge of owners of companion animals on zoonoses in two human-dominated landscapes. The cross-sectional study involved fieldwork and laboratory processing of biological samples from dogs, cats, and rodents using molecular techniques. Specifically, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis were used to investigate the presence or absence of zoonotic pathogens in biological samples. In addition, questionnaires were administered to owners of companion animals in households and veterinary institutions in designated study areas. Secondary data on zoonotic diseases presented at selected health facilities were also accessed and evaluated to complement the field data. Overall, 404 animals comprising 185(45.8%) dogs, 15(3.7%) cats and 204 (50.5%) rodents were sampled from households, veterinary institutions and selected study sites. In all, seven (7) species of rodents were trapped with Arvicanthis niloticus and Praomys tullbergi identified as the dominant species in the urban and peri-urban areas, respectively. The prevalence of Babesia spp. was the highest (80.7%), followed by Staphylococcus spp. (72.5%) and the least was Ancylostoma spp. (18.1%). For zoonotic helminths (Toxocara canis, Strongyloides stercoralis and Ancylostoma spp.), a prevalence of 30.12% was recorded. The study found significant differences in the prevalence of T. canis (p<0.001), S. stercoralis (p=0.033), and Salmonella spp. (p<0.001), Staphylococcus spp. (p=0.017) and Babesia spp. (p=0.029) between the two human-dominated landscapes. Similarly, there were significant differences in the prevalence of T. canis (p=0.034), S. stercoralis (p<0.001) and Babesia spp. (p<0.001) between the households and veterinary institutions as well as among sampled animals (p<0.05). On the whole, 13.9% of sampled animals had a single or mono-zoonotic infection, while 80.9% were co-infected with multiple zoonotic pathogens. Additionally, medical records from Shai-Osudoku and Pentecost Hospitals revealed that helminth infections were the commonest zoonoses presented by clients, particularly those under 18 years old. Conversely, staphylococcal infections were the highest zoonotic infections reported by clients of the University of Ghana Hospital. Again, 33.8% of 230 respondents who participated in the survey owned companion animals for companionship or as part of the family. Remarkably, 38.9% of the respondents had never dewormed their companion animals. While 62% of respondents had vaccinated their animals, 10.1% did it over a year ago, implying that about 48.1% of these animals were at risk of infectious diseases and could transmit the same to their owners. Furthermore, significant positive associations were found between the educational level of respondents and the frequency of vaccinating pets (rs =0.254, p<0.001) as well as respondents’ knowledge of causes or sources of zoonoses (rs =0.141, p=0.049). On the contrary, there was a significant negative association between the frequency of deworming pets and the main reason for keeping such animals (rs =-0.203, p=0.011) besides the prevention of zoonoses (rs =-0.260, p=0.001). Findings from this study indicate companion animals and rodents are reservoir hosts to zoonotic pathogens of public health importance that can potentially be transmissible to their owners and the community. Also, because these animals are co-infected with multiple zoonotic pathogens, it suggests there could be serious implications for sustainable health, which SDG 3 seeks to achieve. Data from the animal interface and the medical records from the human interface indicate the potential transmission of zoonoses, especially helminthiasis, in the studied communities. In addition, the urban areas were identified to best support the potential transmission of zoonoses contrary to the peri-urban areas. Thus, active surveillance of zoonoses in animals in close contact with humans in our urban and peri-urban communities is urgently required. Again, respondents had some knowledge of zoonotic diseases from companion animals, although most were ignorant of zoonoses from rodents. Findings from the survey indicate that a high proportion of owners of companion animals in the study areas were engaged in activities that predispose them to zoonotic diseases. It is recommended that public education campaigns and awareness creation programmes using a one-health approach should be started in earnest to ensure the effective prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.
Description
PhD. Applied Parasitology
Keywords
Human-Domestic-Wildlife, Zoonoses, Sustainable Health