General conclusions
This review shows that knowledge of canine helminths in southern South America is scarce. The studies published on dog parasites are not equally distributed across the three countries, with Uruguay presenting the least amount of available information.
Data on dog parasites in southern South America is still too incipient for identification of a clear distribution pattern. Homogenisation of criteria would be beneficial, since the methods used are diverse and heterogeneous, some studies using only flotation or sedimentation techniques. Numerous parasitic species were recorded, many of which are zoonotic and widely distributed throughout both urban and rural areas of these countries. The risk of dogs becoming infected is high given the number of parasites present and the style of pet ownership in the communities of these countries, where dogs are allowed to roam freely, and veterinary care is scarce. The high percentage of zoonotic helminths reinforces the need to establish effective prevention measures, not only for parasitosis in animals but also for transmission to humans. Considering that people in both urban and rural areas are at risk of being infected with zoonoses transmitted by dogs, given the high levels of infection they present in their faeces, a One Health approach to public health would be desirable, such that humans and dogs should be treated concomitantly to control the parasites. Furthermore, it would be desirable to implement measures such as control of the canine population, mass treatment of dogs with anthelmintics, education programmes and healthcare alert systems.
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