The hypothesis central to this study is that the implementation of a canine breeding and parasite
control program in Aboriginal communities results in a reduction in the reservoir of zoonotic
parasites within communities. The effect of the parasite and breeding control program on the
health status of dogs as well as the population characteristics of dogs in communities was also
investigated.
The study was conducted in 17 Aboriginal communities of the Kimberley region of Western
Australia, divided into three regions according to cultural and geographical attributes. All dogs
from each community were permanently identified using a microchip system. Owners of dogs
were asked the usual location of their animals, the origins of their dogs and the whereabouts of
any missing animals at subsequent visits. Every three months dogs were treated with 200ygikg
iverrnectin (a potent endo- and ecto-parasiticide) subcutaneously and adult female dogs were
treated with an injectable contraceptive (10-30mgkg proligestone) at the request of their
owners. At the time of treatment, dogs were assessed for ecto-parasites and photographs taken
for later comparison and diagnosis of alopecic skin conditions. Faecal and blood samples were
collected every three to six months and skin scrapings were collected from dogs that were
refractory to treatment. The samples were used to determine internal parasite prevalence (using
formal ethyl acetate sedimentation), blood parameters (for anaemia status) and evidence of
scabies or Demodex infestation.
A pilot study at one group of communities, involving weekly assessment of dogs after one
iverrnectin treatment, showed that the treatment was effective in reducing the prevalence of
scabies (as determined by clinical evaluation), hookworm and ticks. The treatment resulted in
improvement in animal health as evidenced by a reduction in the number of dogs with anaemia.
The long-term use of the ivermectin treatments at the other communities showed that over a
period of three years, the prevalence of scabies and hookworm had reduced at most areas. The
initial scabies prevalence varied from 17 to 52% and reduced to below 10% for all communities.
The hookworm infection rates were affected by seasonal factors, as was evidenced by a seasonal
variance in prevalence. Animals that were treated with ivermectin, though, had lower
prevalences of hookworm than those that were not.
There was a reasonable compliance rate for contraceptive treatments for female dogs (greater
than 60% at each visit) and fewer puppies were born within communities when compared with
rates before and after the establishment of the treatment program. High rates of acquisition of
puppies from other communities continued to maintain the dog population numbers despite the
reduction in breeding within communities.
The dog population was young, biased towards male dogs, and very unstable (almost 50% of
dogs died or went missing in a one year period). The rate of dog ownership across the
Kimberley varied according to the region investigated and always remained higher or equal to
ownership rates at the town centres of the Kimberley Region (as determined by a survey
conducted during the study).
Overall the canine parasite and breeding control program resulted in a reduction in scabies and
hookworm prevalence in dogs (and hence a reduction in the potential zoonotic transmission), a
reduction in dog breeding within communities, an improvement in dog health, and an
understanding in the dynamics and health status of dogs within communities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/221748 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Kathryn Wilks |
| Publisher | Murdoch University |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.murdoch.edu.au/goto/CopyrightNotice, Copyright Kathryn Wilks |
Page generated in 0.0022 seconds