Pathogenic Rickettsia in ticks of spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo Graeca) sold in a Qatar live animal market

The dissemination of vector arthropods harbouring zoonotic pathogens through the uncontrolled transboundary trade of exotic and pet animals poses an important threat to Public Health. In the present report, we describe the introduction of pathogenic Rickettsia africae and R. aeschlimanni in ticks removed from imported tortoises in Qatar. A total of 21 ticks were collected from pet spur‐thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) from Doha, May 2018, and studied for species identification and characterization of Rickettsia spp. Morphological and molecular analysis of ticks allowed their identification as Hyalomma aegyptium. Molecular analysis of partial ompA and gltA genes showed that Rickettsia sequences found on these ticks clustered with sequences classified as R. aeschilimanii and R. africae. Since pre‐adult stages of H. aegyptium also feed on humans, this tick species may play a role in the transmission of R. aeschilimanii and R. africae. We alert for the introduction of non‐native pets as vehicles for tick importation, known vectors for animal and human pathogenic agents. Importation of exotic species into non‐autochthonous countries deserves strict control to enforce robust surveillance and mitigate potential exotic diseases epidemics.P. Barradas (SFRH/BD/116449/2016) acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support. IPATIMUP integrates the i3S Research Unit, which is partially supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors‐COMPETE and National Funds through the FCT, under the project number Pest‐C/SAU/LA0003/2013. This paper was published under the framework of the European Social Fund, Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2007–2013 (POSDRU/159/1.5/S/136893).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parasitological survey in wild birds kept for rehabilitation in Central Eastern Portugal

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Urban Dog Parks as Sources of Canine Parasites : Contamination Rates and Pet Owner Behaviours in Lisbon, Portugal

Dog parks represent a recent trend in western countries, enabling owners to spend quality time with their pets in a controlled environment.Despite their growing popularity, fewstudies have been performed to date on these parks to investigate dog intestinal parasitic infections and soil contamination. The present study examined 369 faecal and 18 soil samples collected from 3 dog parks in Greater Lisbon, Portugal. Additionally, 102 interviews were performed with dog owners to assess dog-walking behaviours and parasite risk. In total, 33% of the faecal dog samples were infected with at least one parasitic agent: hookworms (16.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. (11.9%), Giardia spp. (11.4%), Toxascaris leonina (1.1%), Cystoisospora spp. (1.1%), Toxocara spp. (0.5%), and Sarcocystis sp. (0.3%).The soil of all theparkswas contaminated withhookwormeggs.This is thefirst study performedinaEuropean urban area to assess canine faecal contamination and parasitic agents in dog parks. Our results highlight the potential of these parks as a source of transmission for canine parasites, including some with zoonotic potential. Public awareness and effective preventive measures should be promoted to minimise the health-risk impact to both animals and humans, under the scope of environmental and public health

Acara puja kuih bakul halang rahsia rumah terbongkar

Dog parks represent a recent trend in western countries, enabling owners to spend quality time with their pets in a controlled environment.Despite their growing popularity, fewstudies have been performed to date on these parks to investigate dog intestinal parasitic infections and soil contamination. The present study examined 369 faecal and 18 soil samples collected from 3 dog parks in Greater Lisbon, Portugal. Additionally, 102 interviews were performed with dog owners to assess dog-walking behaviours and parasite risk. In total, 33% of the faecal dog samples were infected with at least one parasitic agent: hookworms (16.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. (11.9%), Giardia spp. (11.4%), Toxascaris leonina (1.1%), Cystoisospora spp. (1.1%), Toxocara spp. (0.5%), and Sarcocystis sp. (0.3%).The soil of all theparkswas contaminated withhookwormeggs.This is thefirst study performedinaEuropean urban area to assess canine faecal contamination and parasitic agents in dog parks. Our results highlight the potential of these parks as a source of transmission for canine parasites, including some with zoonotic potential. Public awareness and effective preventive measures should be promoted to minimise the health-risk impact to both animals and humans, under the scope of environmental and public health