The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum : An emerging public health risk in Australian tropical rainforests and Indigenous communities

F.A. Smout; L.F. Skerratt; J.R.A. Butler; C.N. Johnson; B.C. Congdon; R.C.A. Thompson

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2017.04.002

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The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum : An emerging public health risk in Australian tropical rainforests and Indigenous communities

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum : An emerging public health risk in Australian tropical rainforests and Indigenous communities

F.A. Smout, L.F. Skerratt, J.R.A. Butler, C.N. Johnson, B.C. Congdon and R.C.A. Thompson

One Health, Vol.3, pp.66-69

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2017.04.002

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Abstract

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is the common hookworm of domestic dogs and cats throughout Asia, and is an emerging but little understood public health risk in tropical northern Australia. We investigated the prevalence of A. ceylanicum in soil and free-ranging domestic dogs at six rainforest locations in Far North Queensland that are Indigenous Australian communities and popular tourist attractions within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. By combining PCR-based techniques with traditional methods of hookworm species identification, we found the prevalence of hookworm in Indigenous community dogs was high (96.3% and 91.9% from necropsy and faecal samples, respectively). The majority of these infections were A. caninum. We also observed, for the first time, the presence of A. ceylanicum infection in domestic dogs (21.7%) and soil (55.6%) in an Indigenous community. A. ceylanicum was present in soil samples from two out of the three popular tourist locations sampled. Our results contribute to the understanding of dogs as a public health risk to Indigenous communities and tourists in the Wet Tropics. Dog health needs to be more fully addressed as part of the Australian Government's commitments to “closing the gap” in chronic disease between Indigenous and other Australians, and encouraging tourism in similar locations.

Details

Title: The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum : An emerging public health risk in Australian tropical rainforests and Indigenous communities
Authors/Creators: F.A. Smout (Author/Creator) - James Cook University
L.F. Skerratt (Author/Creator) - James Cook University
J.R.A. Butler (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Land and Water
C.N. Johnson (Author/Creator) - Australian Research Council
B.C. Congdon (Author/Creator) - James Cook University
R.C.A. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: One Health, Vol.3, pp.66-69
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Identifiers: 991005542407307891
Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.163 Parasitology - General; 1.163.446 Schistosomiasis
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine