Age structure of owned dogs under compulsory culling in a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area
The age structure of the dog population is essential for planning and evaluating control programs for zoonotic diseases. We analyzed data of an owned-dog census in order to characterize, for the first time, the structure of a dog population under compulsory culling in a visceral leishmaniasis endemi...
| Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2016 |
| Country: | Brasil |
| Institution: | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) |
| Repository: | Cadernos de Saúde Pública |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.teste-cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br:article/6155 |
| Online Access: | https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6155 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Dogs Age Distribution Visceral Leishmaniasis Zoonoses |
| Summary: | The age structure of the dog population is essential for planning and evaluating control programs for zoonotic diseases. We analyzed data of an owned-dog census in order to characterize, for the first time, the structure of a dog population under compulsory culling in a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area (Panorama, São Paulo State, Brazil) that recorded a dog-culling rate of 28% in the year of the study. Data on 1,329 households and 1,671 owned dogs revealed an owned dog:human ratio of 1:7. The mean age of dogs was estimated at 1.73 years; the age pyramid indicated high birth and mortality rates at the first year of age with an estimated cumulative mortality of 78% at the third year of age and expected life span of 2.75 years. In spite of the high mortality, a growth projection simulation suggested that the population has potential to grow in a logarithmic scale over the years. The estimated parameters can be further applied in models to maximize the impact and minimize financial inputs of visceral leishmaniasis control measures. |
|---|