dog hydatidosis
hydatid disease It is a zoonotic infection caused by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. Definitive hosts include dogs, wild dogs, foxes, etc. in which the adult worms are present in the intestines.
More than 50,000 worms may inhabit the duodenum and upper jejunum of infected dogs and individual worms are said to disrupt the intestinal mucosa, such massive infections are well tolerated by the definitive host without clinical signs. Intermediate hosts include sheep, pigs, goats, cattle, and humans in which metacestodes develop and are called hydatid cysts.
Humans, especially children, acquire the diseases by ingestion of echinococcus eggs, which occurs by transfer of eggs from hand to mouth after contact with infected dogs, but can also result from ingestion of food, water, soil or fomites contaminated with feces from infected dogs.
etiology
Four species of echinococci are known to cause disease in humans: E.granulosus, E.multilocularis, E.vogeli, and E.oligasthus. Both E.granulosus and E.multilocularis tend to establish systematic cycles when adequate prey-predator relationships exist in the wildlife population.
Echinococcus granulosus
It is the most widespread species that causes cystic hydatid disease. The eggs hatch when ingested and release oncosphere. The larva grows slowly and infrequently and exceeds more than a few centimeters in diameter in sheep and cattle for slaughter.
The cyst commonly develops in liver 20%, brain 1%, peritoneal cavity 8%, Kidney-3%, bone marrow and other organs 3%.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
1. It spreads all over the world, the Mediterranean area, the Middle East. Indian subcontinent, Africa, Australia and Central America.
2. Relies heavily on spread of eggs by rural tapeworm-carrying dogs and stray dogs.
3. Inappropriate meat inspection standard or private slaughter practice without mandatory meat inspection that favors distribution.
4. The pattern of transmission depends on the genetic variant of E. granulosus that is prevalent in an endemic area.
5. It is of epidemiological relevance that E. granulosus has a number of genetic variations adapted to sheep, cattle, horses, or pigs (generally designated as dog-sheep, dog-cattle, dog-horse, etc.) strains. Individuals may differ in morphology, biology (fertile/sterile cyst ratio), antigenic composition, and infectivity for humans.
6. Older animals are less susceptible to infection and develop sterile cysts more often.
7. The eggs can survive more than a year in the environment, but quickly perish if exposed to high temperatures.
Hydatid disease control
1. Education for health and personal hygiene
2. Limit the population of anthelmintic regimented stray dogs. medication (Praziquinatal during the prepatent period every 6 months of potential infection in more practically every 3 months).
3. Prohibition of raw feeding of dogs and cats.
4. Efficient meat inspection procedures with effective disposal of rejected meat and offal.
5. Avoid eating unwashed fruits and vegetables in endemic areas.
6. Food products can be made safe by heating at 45°C for 3 hours. The eggs survive storage in the home deep freezer, but lose infectivity after 3 days of freezing at -80 degrees c.
Adopting these measures will not only control hydatidosis among our beloved pets but also among us, the prestigious pet owners.
