Assessment of Risk Factors for Parasitic Zoonotic Diseases among Pet Owners in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

Companion animals play a pivotal role in the transmission of parasites to humans, acting as definitive or reservoir hosts for helminth and protozoan species. However, this cohabitation with pet animals allows for the transmission of zoonotic parasites to humans. The objective of this study was to conduct parasite surveys through a structured questionnaire in humans to identify, evaluate and establish the risk factors which are favouring the transmission of zoonotic parasites to humans.Irregular deworming (p=0.011), lack of awareness on parasitic zoonotic diseases, allowing the pets to defecate in public places (p=0.005), habit of feeding pets with undercooked meat, allowing the pets to prey on rodents (p=0.029) and method of disposal of faecal material (p=0.025) were the major risk factors identified of among various factors studied and they are highly responsible for the various clinical manifestations due to zoonotic parasitic diseases in humans like Allergy, Eosinophilia, Cutaneous tracts with pruritus. Knowledge on zoonosis and pet management practices was poor, including irregular deworming. Dogs may play an active role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases in the area, given the cohabitation of infected dogs with humans; the irregular deworming pattern of dogs; and rampant excretion of helminth-infested dog excreta into the environment.