Presenter of 2 Presentations
HUMAN SOCIAL CONDITIONS PREDICT THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO ZOONOTIC PARASITES IN COMPANION ANIMALS IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (ID 1029)
Abstract
Introduction
To date, there is a dearth of information on the risk associated with pet ownership for the transmission of parasites on a large scale in Asia, despite a recent surge in animals has been observed across the continent.
Methods
We explored the nature and extent of zoonotic internal (endo-) and external (ecto-) parasites and arthropod-borne zoonotic pathogens in 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia using a panel of reliable diagnostic tests, and then undertook extensive statistical analyses to define predictors of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.
Results
Nearly half (45%) of the dogs and cats sampled harboured at least one of > 40 pathogens detected, with >85% of these animals living in highly urbanised metropolitan areas. We highlight the influence of human life expectancy and the neutering status of the animals, which reflect increased living standards through access to education and human and veterinary health care, to be both strongly associated with exposure to zoonotic parasites.
Conclusions
An increase in the number of veterinary medicine curricula and an enhanced commitment of local authorities to establish prevention campaigns against zoonotic pathogens will play a crucial role in alleviating the impact of these diseases in humans in Asia. This will necessitate an integrated approach of local and international authorities to implement educational programs, particularly in resource-poor areas, where a negative synergistic effect of limited veterinary education and a low standard of living is expected to foster an increased exposure of people to zoonotic infections.
RISK PROFILING AND EFFICACY OF ALBENDAZOLE AGAINST THE HOOKWORMS NECATOR AMERICANUS AND ANCYLOSTOMA CEYLANICUM (ID 1036)
Abstract
Introduction
Hookworm disease is endemic throughout many parts of the Asia Pacific, despite targeted control programs of at-risk populations. The success of these programs has been hindered by the rapid re-infection rates linked to persistent reservoirs and the low sensitivity of conventional coprodiagnostic techniques employed.
Methods
We used standard faecal flotation (SFF) and a multiplex qPCR assay to calculate and compare species-specific cure and egg reduction rates of single dose albendazole (400 mg) against hookworm infections at community level. Individual patient data were used to inform a generalised linear mixed model to identify risk factors linked to hookworm infection(s) at baseline to the probability of being cured after albendazole administration.
Results
Overall, 13.5% of all 1,232 people tested by SFF were positive for hookworm infection(s). We revealed a substantial difference in cure rate of hookworm infection(s) following albendazole treatment using the SFF (81.5%) and mqPCR (46.4%) assays, and provide the first data on the efficacy of this drug against the zoonotic hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum. We estimated that as age increases by one year, the odds of being cured decreases by 0.4%–3.7% while the odds of being cured for people who boiled drinking water was estimated to be between 1·02 and 6·82.
Conclusions
These findings show that the adoption of refined diagnostic techniques is central to monitoring hookworm infections and the success of control strategies, which can ultimately aid in reducing associated morbidity in human populations. The approach taken is likely to be directly applicable to other parts of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, where specific epidemiological conditions might hamper the success of targeted treatment programs.