Bosnia and Herzegovina most infected with dog parasites in Europe!

Public areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina are infected with various types of parasites, reaching a worrying level. Parasites transmitted by dogs are predominant - warned Almedina Zuko, a professor from the Veterinary Faculty in Sarajevo for the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

The condition of parks, schoolyards, and kindergartens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, says Zuko, is catastrophic. Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing the problem of a huge number of stray dogs for months, and due to the application of the Animal Welfare Law, there is no one to remove them from the streets.

According to experts, the least of the problems are numerous dog attacks on citizens. The infection is much more dangerous.

- The most present parasite is "Toxocara canis", which causes skin and other diseases in children. The second is "Echinococcus granulosus" - the most common cause of cyst formation in humans - says Zuko.

According to Professor Zuko's data, as many as 7.8 percent of patients in the Federation suffer from the parasite "Echinococcus granulosus".

As she says for NAP, parasite eggs are most often transmitted through dirty hands, but also through strawberries, salads, or other insufficiently washed vegetables that have previously been exposed to contact with stray dogs.

- Romania once had the highest rate of Echinococcus patients in the Western Balkans. But, with the appearance of a large number of stray dogs on our streets, we have surpassed them in the number of patients - says Zuko.

She fears that the number of parasites could be even higher this year because the winter was warm, which is conducive to the development of parasites.

Studies on the contamination of public areas with parasite eggs, conducted by Professor Zuko five years ago, showed that Sarajevo's share in the total contamination was around 20 percent. The situation is even worse in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. There are many contaminated areas in the Mostar and Bihać regions.

- It should be known that stray dogs are not the only problem. Dogs kept under control are also very often infected with parasites - explains Professor Zuko.

For now, she sees the only solution to this problem in maintaining a high level of hygiene.

- I recommend that parents be careful where children play, and I ask dog owners to remove feces from public areas. At the same time, it is necessary to re-examine the soil contamination analyses - she adds.