| Popis: |
The dog was the first domesticated species [1]. With the domestication of other species and the dawn of pastoralism dogs started to be used to herd and protect livestock [2]. Pastoral context is peculiar since humans share the same environment with dogs and other domestic species. The aim of this study was to acquire information on dogs' management and welfare in pastoral environment, in order to identify any critical point for public health and to enlighten any difference in management between the following dog categories: livestock guarding dogs (LGDs), herding dogs (HDs), house dogs (PDs), truffle dogs (TDs). Data were collected by visiting 30 sheep and goat farms in the Tuscan Emilian Apennine area and interviewing the farmers. 184 dogs were included: 91LGDs, 45 HDs, 41 PDs and 7 TDs. Only 7% (13/184) were pedigree dogs. As regards LGDs, the most represented breed was the Maremma Sheepdog, while most herding dogs' breed was Lupino del Gigante, a local Italian breed not officially recognized by the Italian Kennel Club. 81% (149/184) of dogs were regularly registered, with a higher percentage for sheepdogs (89%, 121/136) than PDs (61%, 25/41) and TDs (42%, 3/7). 65% (119/184) of dogs were vaccinated, with a higher percentage for HDs (87%, 39/45) than LGDs (59%, 65/91) and PDs (63%, 26/41); 65% (119/184) were wormed and 88% (162/184) treated for ectoparasites. Neutered dogs were only the 12% of sheepdogs (17/136) and 22% of PDs (9/41); all TDs were intact. None of the dogs were subjected to mutilations such as tail docking and ear cropping. 60% of farmers (18/30) used to chain up their dogs for short periods, 2 farmers kept some dogs restrained all the time. Most farmers fed their dogs only once a day, with petfood and dry bread, but in 17/30 farms (57%) both sheepdogs and house dogs had access to afterbirths and livestock carcasses. Given the dogs' temperament, faeces were collected from the ground whenever possible. Coprological examinations were positive for Tricocephali in 12/20 (60%) farms, Cestodes in 7/20 (35%) and Ascarids in 5/20 (25%) farms. Data concerning the official registration of dogs confirm that, at present, the Italian law no. 281/1991 to prevent the stray problem is not being implemented properly. Estrus control appears to be scarcely felt byfarmers and it becomes an issue only if it compromises the sheepdogs' work. Another alarming aspect is the farmers' habit to let the dogs having free access to afterbirths and carcasses. In fact, the high prevalence of Cestodes observed in our sample, given the coexistence of all the host implicated in its biological cycle, throws up the red flag for the possible presence of Echinococcus granulosus, an important zoonotic agent. Strikingly, the prevalence of Cestodes we found in dogs is very similar to the prevalence of hydatidosis observed in adult sheep from Italian farms, which therefore has to be considered an endemic disease |
