SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT ZOONOSES AND THE ENVIRONMENT


Authors: Borislava Chakarova, Katya Kichukova
Keywords: parasitic zoonoses, environment contaminated with parasitic elements

Abstract:
Zoonoses are diseases which are transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans and are endemic to certain regions with high morbidity.
The aim of the study is to conduct a sanitary parasitology testing of soil samples in a specific living quarter of Stara Zagora. The results have been associated indirectly with the morbidity of some parasitic zoonoses which are socially significant for Bulgaria.
Material and methods: data from official sources on the morbidity of cyst echinococcosis and toxocariasis were analyzed. A sanitary parasitological study of parasitic elements from 64 sites in 15 streets in a living quarter in Stara Zagora was performed.
Results: the annual ECDC analyses for the period 2006-2021 on the prevalence of cyst echinococcosis show that the cases of echinococcosis in Bulgaria vary between 30 and 50 % of operated patients in the EU/EEA. The cases of toxocariasis in humans in specific communities amount to 25% of the tested persons. The environmental investigation in several regions of Stara Zagora for zooparasitic elements through different periods manifests an increase of the relative share of the contaminated sites – between 68% and 92%. During the sanitary parasitological analysis, it was found that on the territory of 59 (92.2%) sites there were parasitic elements. Eggs of four parasitic genera were identified: Toxocara sp. – 22.3%) of samples, Taenia sp. – 6.5%, Trichuris sp. and Ancylostoma sp. - 1.6% and larvae of nematodes – 1.1% of samples. Parasitic zoonoses are a serious problem in communities, coinhabited by people and incorrectly kept pets or near populations of stray dogs and cats.Download article