Investigations on the impact of San Nicolás dump (Florencio Varela): an epidemiologic intervention

Se evaluó el impacto ambiental de un basural extenso de 25 metros de profundidad ubicado en Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, en un marco de investigación participativa. El basural se investigó desde dos ángulos, evaluándose: - su influencia sobre la calidad del agua subterránea de los acuíferos de consumo en la zona; y - su rol como posible amplificador de la transmisión de la leptospirosis a la población canina. El impacto del basural sobre las aguas subterráneas se refleja en un aumento de los niveles medios de ciertos parámetros en los sitios de muestreo situados lateralmente o aguas abajo del basural, tales como dureza, cloruro, hierro y manganeso. Se detectaron contaminantes tóxicos, cianuro y mercurio, aunque el últimose originaria también en otras fuentes de contaminación. El basural sería un factor de riesgo adicional para la transmisión de leptospirosis a la población canina, si bien otros factores de riesgo pueden mantener seroprevalencias relativamente elevadas en la población del área. Esto representa un riesgo para la población humana residente, ya que los perros actúan corno un reservorio de la infección y contaminan el medio. La información producida se comunicó a los actores sociales involucrados, lo que contribuyó a la eliminación del basural.The study was aimed to evaluate the environmental impact of an extensive dump 25 meters deep located in Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The dump was investigated from two points of view: - their influence on the ground water quality of the acuifers exploited in the area; and - their role as an amplifying factor of leptospiroses tranmission to local dog population. With regards to the impact on ground water quality, the results indicated a increase in the mean levels of some parameters in the sample sites located downstream or Laterally from the dump, such as hardness, chloride, iron and manganese. Toxic contaminants, specially cyanide and mercury, were detected, although other contamination sources would be present. Contact with the dump involves an additional risk to leptospiroses transmission to the dog population, although others risk factors could maintain high seroprevalences in the dogs. This constitutes a risk for local people, since the dog population acts as a reservoir and can contaminate the environment. The produced information was communicated to the involved social actors.Fil:Rubel, Diana Nora. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Dogs in public spaces of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Exploring patterns of the abundance of dogs, the canine faecal contamination, the behaviour of people with dogs, and its relationships with demographic/economic variables

The level of faecal contamination in urban public spaces depends on the behaviour of dogs's owners as well as on dog abundance. The aims of the present study were to explore patterns of the relative abundance of dogs, the canine faecal contamination, the behaviour of owners and dog walkers towards their pets, and their relationship with human demographic/economic variables in Buenos Aires city. We carried out a cross sectional study that included 67 randomly selected sampling sites (street corners). Each sampling site was evaluated one only time by two trained students under our supervision and all sighted dogs between 7 and 11 a.m. in both sidewalks of each corner were counted (spring 2013, 23 days of sampling). Data about dogs and people were obtained by using a standardized questionnaire and by direct observation. Feces censuses in 242 sidewalks were carried out. The sidewalks were randomly selected and its characteristics were registered (i.e. number of shops, trees). GIS was loaded with the city´s cartography and the values for nine variables used as demographic/economic indicators were obtained disaggregated by demographic units (National Census). Generalized linear models were used to identify the environmental and demographic variables related to the number of dogs sighted per site and feces per sidewalk. Explanatory variables per site included human density, number of inhabitants, households, precarious housing, proportion of children, maximum educational level and drinking water provision. For the sidewalks number of shops, trees, tree pits, broken sectors and total length were added. Also, variables regarding dog's owners and dog walkers behaviour were compared. A total of 1193 dog's owners, 234 dog walkers and 2835 dogs were sighted. The number of observed pets and that of people sighted with dogs showed a positive relationship with the economic level and the human density. The stool number per sidewalk increased with the higher number of broken sectors, higher number of tree pits per meter of sidewalk and the lower number of shops on it. The stool number per sidewalk was lower when 40% or more people with dogs carried waste bag to clean dogs’ feces. Our results indicate that dog walkers compared to owners showed different behavioural patterns towards the pets (bag to remove dog's fouling, leash use, use of the green spaces, etc).Fil: Rubel, Diana Nora. Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Carbajo, Anibal Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores; Argentin