Observations on the endo- and ectoparasites affecting dogs and cats in Aboriginal communities in the north-west of Western Australia

Thompson, R.C.A., Meloni, B.P., Hopkins, R.M., Deplazes, P. and Reynoldson, J.A. (2008) Observations on the endo- and ectoparasites affecting dogs and cats in Aboriginal communities in the north-west of Western Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 70 (7). pp. 268-270.

Abstract

Infectious diseases, including those caused by parasites, are much more common in Australian Aboriginal people than in non-Aboriginal, with most infections occurring in the first 5 years of life (Anon 1989). Aboriginal communities in Australia characteristically have large populations of dogs, which have a close association with members of the community, thus providing a considerable risk from zoonotic diseases. However, it is difficult to determine the exact nature of this risk because of a lack of published data on the parasites of dogs and cats in Aboriginal communities.