Hidden danger at playground, parks

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Dogs make lovely and loyal pets, but there are health risks of which owners should be made aware.
These domestic companions can be host to parasitic worms that can pass infection to humans. Children are particularly susceptible.
Infected dogs that defecate in public parks and playgrounds pose a particular hazard. Their faeces contaminates the soil.
Dogs infected with adult hookworms (Toxocara canis or T. canis) can pass out thousands of eggs daily.
In a study conducted by researchers Yusri M.Y. et al from the Institute of Medical Research and the Laotian Ministry of Health titled Detection of Parasitic Infection Among Rural and Urban Dogs in Peninsular Malaysia, it was found that six species of nematodes (worms), including an unknown one, and a species of cestode (tapeworms) were found in 175 stool samples taken randomly.
The worms were hookworms, threadworms, roundworms and whipworms.
Two areas of different demographic characteristics were studied, namely an urban area in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, and two rural areas — the aboriginal settlements of Pos Sendut and Pos Lenjang in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.
The two settlements were considered a low socio-economic population which depended on rivers for water supply and sanitation.
The study was conducted from January to July last year.

The findings on canine faeces showed some interesting results:
• All canine faeces showed the highest prevalence of roundworms;
• Urban dogs showed greater presence of hookworms and whipworms; and,
• Rural dogs showed more roundworms.

In the case of soil contamination, the samples were tested for hookworm contamination as a potential source of human infection.
Urban soil samples showed a higher contamination rate, with hookworm eggs most abundant.
The conclusions drawn were that direct infection from dog to human is not hazardous as the eggs need two weeks to become infectious.
It is more hazardous for people to be exposed to a contaminated environment. Children in playgrounds and people walking barefeet are at high risk of being infected.
However, a 2003 report by British veterinarians discovered that people may become infected from the T. canis worm simply by stroking a dog that carries the parasite.
They discovered that the worm can be found in dog fur in addition to canine faeces. Of 60 dogs that they examined, a quarter had eggs of the worm in their fur.