Research Article | 06 Nov 2025

One Health assessment of zoonotic intestinal parasites in humans, dogs, and soil of coastal Cartagena, Colombia

Dilia Mildret Fontalvo Rivera1 , Irina Tirado Ballestas2 , Marina Morales Aleans3 , Javier Moreno Meneses4 , Natalia Lemos Calle1 , Mariana Lucía Mier Fontalvo4 , Sofía Plata Suarez4 , Anyel Bertel De La Hoz1 , Javier Galvis Ballesteros2 , Vanessa Quiñones Cantillo1 , Jimmy Piñeros Passos1 , Luis Conde Berrío1 , Nuria Visbal Giraldo1 , Camila Carbal Carvajal1 , Andrea Santos Muñoz2 , Juan Franco Rodríguez1 , Alejanddro Hurtado Martínez1 , Karen Navarro González1, Daniela Sierra Urueta1 , and María Lina Simancas Mogollón4 Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | pg no. 3352-3366 | Vol. 18, Issue 11 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.3352-3366
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: Zoonotic intestinal parasites remain a neglected public health problem in low-resource coastal com­munities where humans, free-roaming dogs, and contaminated environments interact closely. Cartagena, Colombia, lacks updated epidemiological data on intestinal parasitosis despite its high tourist influx and vulnerable populations. This study applied a One Health framework to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in humans, dogs, and soil in two coastal regions of Cartagena (La Boquilla and Punta Arenas) and to identify associated risk factors and clinical manifestations.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 2024 and March 2025. Stool samples from 33 residents and 42 dogs were analyzed by direct microscopy with saline and Lugol’s solutions, while 78 soil samples were assessed using the Krumbein, Sloss, and Willis techniques. Dogs suspected of Dirofilaria spp. infection were additionally screened by the Woo test. Sociodemographic data, nutritional status, and clinical information were collected. Statistical analyses included descriptive tests, Chi-square/Fisher’s tests, logistic regression, and odds ratio (OR) estimation at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Soil samples showed high contamination with Toxocara spp. (46.2%), Strongyloides spp. (28%), and Ancylostoma spp. (25.7%). Among humans, 60.97% were positive for parasites, with Giardia spp. (15.15%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (12.12%), Ascaris lumbricoides (12.12%), and Enterobius vermicularis (12.12%) being the most frequent. In dogs, 33.33% carried intestinal parasites, predominantly Ancylostoma spp. (14.29%) and Giardia spp. (7.14%). Clinical manifestations in humans included loss of appetite, cough, dermatitis, and weight loss, while dogs frequently presented with pallor, dermato­logical lesions, and gastrointestinal signs. Logistic regression analysis indicated that a lack of canine deworming significantly increased the risk of human parasitic infections (OR: 3.80; 95% confidence interval: 0.98–14.66; p = 0.048).
Conclusion: This One Health investigation highlights significant zoonotic risk from shared parasitic infections in humans, dogs, and contaminated soils in Cartagena’s coastal regions. The lack of systematic deworming and vaccination in dogs, poor sanitation, and close human–dog contact amplify transmission. Strengths of this study include its integrative human–ani­mal–environment approach, while limitations involve modest sample size and lack of molecular genotyping. Future work should apply molecular epidemiology to confirm cross-species transmission. Practical implications emphasize the urgent need for mass deworming campaigns, improved waste management, vector control, and public health education to reduce zoonotic intestinal parasite burden in vulnerable coastal communities.
          
Keywords: canines, Cartagena, Intestinal parasitosis, One Health, soil contamination, zoonoses.