Zoonotic parasites in golden jackals: A threat to public health?

Abstract

Background and Aims: Golden jackals are reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. As intermediate hosts, jackals can act as bioindicators for circulating parasites, while as definitive hosts, they contribute to environmental contamination. To evaluate the impact of golden jackals residing in suburban areas on public health, the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus spp., Spirometra spp., Toxocara spp. and Ancylostomatidae was determined. Methods: Hearts and gastrointestinal tracts from legally hunted animals were obtained. Heart apex was homogenized; intestines were cut into sections and opened longitudinally. Helminths and feces were collected, the mucosa scraped and examined by sedimentation. Parasite eggs were recovered by flotation and sequential mesh filtration. DNA from tissues and eggs was extracted and specific PCR assays were run. Results: Samples from 26 animals were examined. T. gondii gDNA was detected in eleven (42.3%), followed by Ancylostomatidae in nine (34.6%), Toxocara spp. in four (15.3%) and E. canadensis and E. multilocularis, each in one animal (3.85%). Spirometra spp. were not detected. Conclusions: The detection of E. multilocularis is of the greatest public health concern, given the severity of alveolar echinococcosis. In contrast, Ancylostomatidae, which were detected in more than one third of the samples, are generally associated with relatively mild clinical conditions. The substantial presence of T. gondii however, reflects a high degree of exposure to the parasite, which may pose a risk to public health.