Epidemiological Role of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Stray Dogs in the Context of an Urbanized Metropolis: A Case Study from Uralsk

The increasing number of owned and stray dogs in large cities is becoming a pressing issue due to rising population density, urban conditions, and poor control over animal reproduction. This situation poses serious epidemiological risks, as dogs can act as reservoirs and transmitters of infectious and parasitic diseases dangerous to humans. This study aimed to assess the role of stray dogs in spreading such diseases in Uralsk, Kazakhstan. In 2024, 1,213 stray dogs were captured from different city districts and examined at the veterinary clinic and laboratory of Zhangir Khan University. Biological samples (blood, urine, feces) from 10% of animals were analyzed using molecular genetics, serological, and helminthological methods. DNA of Brucella canis was found in blood and urine, and antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in 57.8% of dogs. Antibodies to Pasteurella multocida, Mycobacterium spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Leptospira spp. were also found. Helminths were common, with Ancylostoma caninum (35.3%), Toxocara canis (32.3%), and Toxascaris leonina (29.4%). PCR confirmed T. canis in 39.2% and Echinococcus granulosus in 16.6%; antibodies were found in 50.9% and 76.4% of dogs, respectively. These findings highlight the public health threat and need for disease control in urban areas.