背景:囊性包虫病(CE),由细粒棘球蚴幼虫期引起,是一种具有全球经济和公共卫生重要性的人畜共患寄生虫病,特别是在地中海地区。犬科动物是成虫的主要确定宿主,其粪便释放的寄生虫卵污染环境。在农村和城市周边地区,由于拥有/非拥有的狗的自由漫游行为,传播给牲畜和人类的风险很高。使用GPS数据记录器收集有关动物运动和行为的数据可能是遏制这种寄生虫病传播的里程碑。因此,本研究旨在制定全面的控制策略,专注于在意大利南部(坎帕尼亚地区)的试点地区驱虫狗。
方法:因此,五个养羊场,CE检测呈阳性,被选中。在每个养羊场,所有在场的牧羊犬每2个月接受吡喹酮治疗.此外,将15个GPS数据记录器应用于绵羊和狗,和他们的运动被跟踪1个月;他们旅行的距离和他们各自的家范围是使用最小凸多边形(MCP)分析确定与凸包几何作为输出。
结果:结果表明,绵羊和狗的平均每日步行距离没有显着差异。GPS收集的超过90%的点位置落在农场的1500公吨范围内,最长的距离是在10点到17点之间。在所有被监控的养羊场,动物在日常活动中穿越的面积显示<250公顷。根据动物的家庭范围,每个农场的质心周围估计了来自犬科动物(最小安全凸多边形)的最高风险区域,并设计了一种潜在的方案,用于递送吡喹酮的诱饵,以治疗在放牧区周围被吸引的非所有狗。
结论:本研究记录了地理空间技术在支持寄生虫控制策略以减少疾病传播方面的有用性。
BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a zoonotic parasitic disease of economic and public health importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean area. Canids are the main definitive hosts of the adult cestode contaminating the environment with parasite eggs released with feces. In rural and peri-urban areas, the risk of transmission to livestock as well as humans is high because of the free-roaming behavior of owned/not owned dogs. Collecting data on animal movements and behavior using GPS dataloggers could be a milestone to contain the spread of this parasitosis. Thus, this study aims to develop a comprehensive control strategy, focused on deworming a dog population in a pilot area of southern Italy (Campania region) highly endemic for CE.
METHODS: Accordingly, five sheep farms, tested to be positive for CE, were selected. In each sheep farm, all shepherd dogs present were treated every 2 months with praziquantel. Furthermore, 15 GPS dataloggers were applied to sheep and dogs, and their movements were tracked for 1 month; the distances that they traveled and their respective home ranges were determined using minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis with a convex hull geometry as output.
RESULTS: The results showed that the mean daily walking distances traveled by sheep and dogs did not significantly differ. Over 90% of the point locations collected by GPS fell within 1500 mt of the farm, and the longest distances were traveled between 10:00 and 17:00. In all the sheep farms monitored, the area traversed by the animals during their daily activities showed an extension of < 250 hectares. Based on the home range of the animals, the area with the highest risk of access from canids (minimum safe convex polygon) was estimated around the centroid of each farm, and a potential scheme for the delivery of praziquantel-laced baits for the treatment of not owned dogs gravitating around the grazing area was designed.
CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the usefulness of geospatial technology in supporting parasite control strategies to reduce disease transmission.