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

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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Askar Nametov, Rashid Karmaliyev, Bekzhassar Sidikhov, Kenzhebek Murzabayev, Kanat Orynkhanov, Bakytkanym Kadraliyeva, Balaussa Yertleuova, Dosmukan Gabdullin, Zulkyya Abilova, Laura Dushayeva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/683
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849433965099745280
author Askar Nametov
Rashid Karmaliyev
Bekzhassar Sidikhov
Kenzhebek Murzabayev
Kanat Orynkhanov
Bakytkanym Kadraliyeva
Balaussa Yertleuova
Dosmukan Gabdullin
Zulkyya Abilova
Laura Dushayeva
author_facet Askar Nametov
Rashid Karmaliyev
Bekzhassar Sidikhov
Kenzhebek Murzabayev
Kanat Orynkhanov
Bakytkanym Kadraliyeva
Balaussa Yertleuova
Dosmukan Gabdullin
Zulkyya Abilova
Laura Dushayeva
author_sort Askar Nametov
collection DOAJ
description 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 <b>to</b> 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 <i>Pasteurella multocida</i>, <i>Mycobacterium</i> spp., <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, and <i>Leptospira</i> 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 <i>Toxocara canis</i> in 50.9% of the dogs and against <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> in 76.4%, reflecting both active and past infections. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed the presence of <i>Brucella canis</i> DNA in blood and urine samples, while antibodies to <i>Brucella</i> 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, <i>T. canis</i> DNA was found in 39.2% of the samples and <i>E. granulosus</i> DNA in 16.6%. A helminthological examination using the Fülleborn method revealed a high rate of helminth infection: <i>Ancylostoma caninum</i>—35.3%, <i>T. canis</i>—32.3%, and <i>Toxascaris leonina</i>—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.
format Article
id doaj-art-1b809e7afc3e49ee8d9a9639f02e35d5
institution Kabale University
issn 2079-7737
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biology
spelling doaj-art-1b809e7afc3e49ee8d9a9639f02e35d52025-08-20T03:26:49ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114668310.3390/biology14060683Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western KazakhstanAskar Nametov0Rashid Karmaliyev1Bekzhassar Sidikhov2Kenzhebek Murzabayev3Kanat Orynkhanov4Bakytkanym Kadraliyeva5Balaussa Yertleuova6Dosmukan Gabdullin7Zulkyya Abilova8Laura Dushayeva9Institute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanVeterinary and Zooengineering Faculty, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, 8 Abay Avenue, Almaty 050010, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanDepartament of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Kostanay Regional University Named After Akhmet Baitursynuly, 10 Chkalova Street, Apartment 67, Kostanay 110005, KazakhstanInstitute of Veterinary and Agrotechnology, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, 51 Zhangir Khan Street, Uralsk 090009, KazakhstanThe 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 <b>to</b> 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 <i>Pasteurella multocida</i>, <i>Mycobacterium</i> spp., <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, and <i>Leptospira</i> 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 <i>Toxocara canis</i> in 50.9% of the dogs and against <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> in 76.4%, reflecting both active and past infections. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed the presence of <i>Brucella canis</i> DNA in blood and urine samples, while antibodies to <i>Brucella</i> 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, <i>T. canis</i> DNA was found in 39.2% of the samples and <i>E. granulosus</i> DNA in 16.6%. A helminthological examination using the Fülleborn method revealed a high rate of helminth infection: <i>Ancylostoma caninum</i>—35.3%, <i>T. canis</i>—32.3%, and <i>Toxascaris leonina</i>—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.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/683stray dogszoonotic diseasesPCRELISAhelminthiasis<i>B. canis</i>
spellingShingle Askar Nametov
Rashid Karmaliyev
Bekzhassar Sidikhov
Kenzhebek Murzabayev
Kanat Orynkhanov
Bakytkanym Kadraliyeva
Balaussa Yertleuova
Dosmukan Gabdullin
Zulkyya Abilova
Laura Dushayeva
Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
Biology
stray dogs
zoonotic diseases
PCR
ELISA
helminthiasis
<i>B. canis</i>
title Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
title_full Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
title_fullStr Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
title_full_unstemmed Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
title_short Stray Dogs as Reservoirs and Sources of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in the Environment of the City of Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan
title_sort stray dogs as reservoirs and sources of infectious and parasitic diseases in the environment of the city of uralsk in western kazakhstan
topic stray dogs
zoonotic diseases
PCR
ELISA
helminthiasis
<i>B. canis</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/683
work_keys_str_mv AT askarnametov straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT rashidkarmaliyev straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT bekzhassarsidikhov straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT kenzhebekmurzabayev straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT kanatorynkhanov straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT bakytkanymkadraliyeva straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT balaussayertleuova straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT dosmukangabdullin straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT zulkyyaabilova straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan
AT lauradushayeva straydogsasreservoirsandsourcesofinfectiousandparasiticdiseasesintheenvironmentofthecityofuralskinwesternkazakhstan