Human social conditions predict the risk of exposure to zoonotic parasites in companion animals in East and Southeast Asia

Colella V 1 , Wongnak P 2 , Tsai YL 3 , Nguyen VL 4 , Tan DY 5 , Tong KBY 6 Show all authors , Lu N 5 , Fang F 7 , Zhijuan Y 7 , Wang J 8 , Liu X 9 , Dong J 10 , Nurcahyo W 11 , Hadi UK 12 , Venturina V 13 , Taweethavonsawat P 14 , Tiwananthagorn S 15 , Le TQ 16 , Bui KL 17 , Watanabe M 18 , Rani PAMA 18 , Traub RJ 19 , Beugnet F 5 , Chalvet-Monfray K 2 , Halos L 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. [email protected]
  • 2 Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
  • 3 National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
  • 4 University of Bari, Bari, Italy
  • 5 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Lyon, France
  • 6 Animal & Avian Veterinary Clinic, Yishun, Singapore
  • 7 College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
  • 8 Sapphire Veterinary Hospital, Shanghai, China
  • 9 Meilian Zhonghua Veterinary Referral Center, Beijing, China
  • 10 Nanjing Police Dog Research Institute, Nanjing, China
  • 11 Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakata, Indonesia
  • 12 IPB University Indonesia, Bogor, Indonesia
  • 13 Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Philippines
  • 14 Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 15 Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • 16 Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • 17 Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • 18 University Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
  • 19 University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Commun Med (Lond), 2022 Nov 15;2(1):144.
PMID: 36380151 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00210-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A recent dramatic surge in pet ownership has been observed across metropolitan areas in Asia. 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 this continent giving rise to the largest burden of zoonotic infections worldwide.

METHODS: We explored the nature and extent of zoonotic internal (endo-) and external (ecto-) parasites and arthropod-borne pathogens in 2381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia using reliable diagnostic tests and then undertook extensive statistical analyses to define predictors of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.

RESULTS: The estimated ORs for overall parasite infections are 1.35 [95% CIs 1.07;1.71] in young animals and 4.10 [1.50;11.2] in the animal group older than 15 years as compared with adult animals, 0.61 [0.48;0.77] in neutered animals as compared to unneutered animals, 0.36 [0.26;0.50] in animals living in urban areas as compared with rural areas, 1.14 [1.08;1.21] for each 1 °C increase of annual mean temperature which varies from 12.0 to 28.0 °C, and 0.86 [0.78;0.95] for each year of life expectancy which varies from 70.9 to 83.3 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Here 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. An integrated approach of local and international authorities to implement and manage educational programs will be crucial for the control of zoonotic infections of companion animals in Asia.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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