Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study
<i>Angiostrongylus</i><i>vasorum</i> is a helminth parasite of domestic dogs that is increasing in range and prevalence. Its lifecycle requires terrestrial gastropod mollusc (“gastropod”) intermediate hosts, but research is lacking regarding contact risk in situ. We studied c...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2577 |
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| author | Bryony A. Tolhurst Andrew D. J. Overall Peter J. King Eric R. Morgan Rowenna J. Baker |
| author_facet | Bryony A. Tolhurst Andrew D. J. Overall Peter J. King Eric R. Morgan Rowenna J. Baker |
| author_sort | Bryony A. Tolhurst |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Angiostrongylus</i><i>vasorum</i> is a helminth parasite of domestic dogs that is increasing in range and prevalence. Its lifecycle requires terrestrial gastropod mollusc (“gastropod”) intermediate hosts, but research is lacking regarding contact risk in situ. We studied co-occurrence between dogs and gastropods in dog-walking spaces in an <i>A. vasorum</i> hotspot in southern England, United Kingdom, with the aim of quantifying environmental and spatio-temporal overlap. We surveyed 390 quadrats and 180 point-counts along 3 km transects at seven sites, yielding 1672 gastropod and 763 dog observations. Common gastropods comprised <i>Arion</i>, <i>Cornu</i>, <i>Monacha</i>, <i>Deroceras</i>, <i>Tandonia</i>, <i>Cochlicella,</i> and <i>Trochulus</i> species. Habitat was the most important factor structuring both gastropod and dog presence and abundance. Likelihood ratio comparisons from conditional probability trees revealed that dogs were 15× more likely to be present on hardstanding surfaces than other habitats but were also present on natural and amenity grassland. Presence of gastropod species associated with high <i>A. vasorum</i> prevalence was 65.12× more likely in woodland/scrub and 62.17× more likely in amenity grassland than other habitats. For gastropods overall, high abundance was 5.82× more likely in woodland/scrub and natural grassland. The findings suggest co-occurrence is highest in amenity and natural grassland, but infection risk is greatest in amenity grassland and woodland/scrub. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:58:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad0778452e57477eb789652c097e580c |
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| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:58:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad0778452e57477eb789652c097e580c2023-11-22T11:42:17ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-09-01119257710.3390/ani11092577Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary StudyBryony A. Tolhurst0Andrew D. J. Overall1Peter J. King2Eric R. Morgan3Rowenna J. Baker4Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UKEcology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UKIndependent Researcher, Storrington RH20 4NZ, UKBiological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, 19, Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, UKEcology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, The University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK<i>Angiostrongylus</i><i>vasorum</i> is a helminth parasite of domestic dogs that is increasing in range and prevalence. Its lifecycle requires terrestrial gastropod mollusc (“gastropod”) intermediate hosts, but research is lacking regarding contact risk in situ. We studied co-occurrence between dogs and gastropods in dog-walking spaces in an <i>A. vasorum</i> hotspot in southern England, United Kingdom, with the aim of quantifying environmental and spatio-temporal overlap. We surveyed 390 quadrats and 180 point-counts along 3 km transects at seven sites, yielding 1672 gastropod and 763 dog observations. Common gastropods comprised <i>Arion</i>, <i>Cornu</i>, <i>Monacha</i>, <i>Deroceras</i>, <i>Tandonia</i>, <i>Cochlicella,</i> and <i>Trochulus</i> species. Habitat was the most important factor structuring both gastropod and dog presence and abundance. Likelihood ratio comparisons from conditional probability trees revealed that dogs were 15× more likely to be present on hardstanding surfaces than other habitats but were also present on natural and amenity grassland. Presence of gastropod species associated with high <i>A. vasorum</i> prevalence was 65.12× more likely in woodland/scrub and 62.17× more likely in amenity grassland than other habitats. For gastropods overall, high abundance was 5.82× more likely in woodland/scrub and natural grassland. The findings suggest co-occurrence is highest in amenity and natural grassland, but infection risk is greatest in amenity grassland and woodland/scrub.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2577slugsnailgastropod mollusc<i>Angiostronglyus vasorum</i>domestic dog<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i> |
| spellingShingle | Bryony A. Tolhurst Andrew D. J. Overall Peter J. King Eric R. Morgan Rowenna J. Baker Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study Animals slug snail gastropod mollusc <i>Angiostronglyus vasorum</i> domestic dog <i>Canis lupus familiaris</i> |
| title | Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study |
| title_full | Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study |
| title_fullStr | Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study |
| title_short | Co-Occurrence of Domestic Dogs and Gastropod Molluscs in Public Dog-Walking Spaces and Implications for Infection with <i>Angiostrongylus vasorum</i>: A Preliminary Study |
| title_sort | co occurrence of domestic dogs and gastropod molluscs in public dog walking spaces and implications for infection with i angiostrongylus vasorum i a preliminary study |
| topic | slug snail gastropod mollusc <i>Angiostronglyus vasorum</i> domestic dog <i>Canis lupus familiaris</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2577 |
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