Science & Research (Apr 2024)
SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT ZOONOSES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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.
