Potential Environmental Health Hazards from the Careless Discard of Canine Faeces

Bassam Oudh Al Johny

Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P, O, Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were isolated from four sites contaminated with dog faeces, while no isolates were obtained from a fifth location, an uncontaminated site. The number of bacteria isolated varied from site to site with E. coli being isolated in the highest numbers.  Bacteria which are potentially pathogenic were isolated from dog faeces left at ambient conditions in plastic bags .Numbers of E.coli and S. enterica   increased significantly in the dog faeces, when they were left in sealed plastic bags, over a 28 incubation period. In conclusion, the results presented here show that dog faeces represent an important means by which bacterial pathogens can be transferred from dogs to humans via the soil. The reprehensible recent habit, amongst some dog owners, of leaving faeces in sealed plastic bags is likely to greatly exacerbate this problem.

KEYWORDS: public-health problems; contaminated soil; viable pathogens; Canine Faeces; United Kingdom

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