Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan.

Abstract

The increasing number of owned and stray dogs in large cities is becoming a pressing issue due to rising population densities, urban conditions, and poor control over animal reproduction. This situation poses serious epidemiological risks, as dogs can act as reservoirs and transmitters of infectious and parasitic diseases dangerous to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and carriage of infectious and parasitic diseases in stray dogs in the city of Uralsk as a factor of epidemiological risk. In 2024, 1213 stray dogs were captured from different city districts and examined at the veterinary clinic and laboratory of Zhangir Khan University. Biological samples (blood, urine, feces) from 10% of the animals were analyzed using molecular (PCR), serological (ELISA), and helminthological methods. Serological and molecular analyses revealed the widespread circulation of bacterial pathogens. Antibodies to additional bacterial agents, including Pasteurella multocida, Mycobacterium spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Leptospira spp., were detected in the samples, indicating an unfavorable sanitary and epidemiological situation in the urban environment. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) identified antibodies against Toxocara canis in 50.9% of the dogs and against Echinococcus granulosus in 76.4%, reflecting both active and past infections. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed the presence of Brucella canis DNA in blood and urine samples, while antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in 57.8% of the examined dogs, underscoring the significant zooanthroponotic importance of this pathogen and its potential threat to human health. Additionally, T. canis DNA was found in 39.2% of the samples and E. granulosus DNA in 16.6%. A helminthological examination using the Fülleborn method revealed a high rate of helminth infection: Ancylostoma caninum-35.3%, T. canis-32.3%, and Toxascaris leonina-29.4%. The obtained results highlight the significant role of stray dogs as epizootiological and epidemiological reservoirs of zooanthroponotic infections. This poses a serious threat to public health and necessitates the implementation of effective control and prevention measures for infectious and parasitic diseases within urban fauna.